❓ WA Parliament Question on Notice reveals which government departments and agencies outsource payroll management, the costs involved, data shared, and any privacy breaches. Most agencies use Australian-based companies, with no breaches reported.
AnsweredQoN 3591Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 August 2018
Member
Portfolio
Treasurer; Minister for Finance; Energy; Aboriginal Affairs
QuestionView source ↗
In the 2017-18 financial year has any department, agencies, commissions or Government Trading Enterprises (GTE) within the Minister's portfolio of responsibilities utilised an outsourced payroll management company and if so: (a) What outsourced payroll company was used and in what country are they based; (b) What is the estimated cost of utilising this outsourced option; (c) What data is provided to this outsourced payroll company in order to process payroll (i.e. names, addresses, bank details); and (d) Is the Minister or Agency aware of any privacy breaches in relation to the data provided to this outsourced payroll company: (i) If so, what is the nature of that breach, including dates of released data and details of the data released?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2018
Response time
9 days
Department of Treasury
(a) Treasury utilises an Australian based outsourced payroll management company (Ascender) through a bureau service arrangement with the Department of Finance.
(b) The cost of using this service is met by the Department of Finance, who will report the total cost of this arrangement.
(c) The data provided to the outsourced payroll management company is managed by the Department of Finance.
(d) The Department of Finance has advised that there has not been any occurrence of privacy breaches.
(i) Not applicable.
Department of Finance
(a) The payroll function is delivered through a partially outsourced or co-managed arrangement with Ascender Pay (an Australian-based provider). Under this arrangement, Department of Finance staff process payroll transactions using an Ascender Pay system solution to upload payroll data and disperse funds.
(b) $265,286 – the cost is inclusive of the bureau payroll service provided to the Department of Treasury and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
(c) The full range of payroll information is held in the Ascender Pay system
(d) No.
(i) Not applicable
Western Australia Treasury Corporation
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Economic Regulation Authority
(a) Fusion5, Australia
(b) $27,007.49
(c) Name, Superannuation details, Tax file number, salary details.
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 3594.
Aboriginal Policy and Coordination Unit
Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 3581.
Western Power
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Synergy
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Horizon Power
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Government Employees Superannuation Board
Yes
(a) Ascender Pay Pty Ltd. They are based in Australia.
(b) Cost for 2017-18 was $23,764 (including GST)
(c) The data provided is:
· Name of Employee
· Date of Birth
· Address
· Tax File Number
· Bank Account Details
· Superannuation Fund Details
· Salary Packaging Details
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Insurance Commission of Western Australia
The Insurance Commission manages its payroll internally and procures IT services to facilitate delivery of these services. The Insurance Commission’s personnel and payroll data resides on Ascender Pay servers. The Insurance Commission is responsible for the preparation and disbursement of the fortnightly payroll.
(a) Ascender Pay Pty Ltd, based in Australia.
(b) $60,000 p.a.
(c) Employee details, including remuneration; name, date of birth, address, next of kin; leave; bank details; training records; time and attendance records; and occupational safety and health records.
(d) No.
(e) Not applicable.
Office of the Auditor General
Yes (a) Aurion, based in Australia
(b) $45,000 per year
(c) Employee details including name, address, bank details, superannuation, tax and all relevant payroll information to process the fortnightly payroll
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
(a) Treasury utilises an Australian based outsourced payroll management company (Ascender) through a bureau service arrangement with the Department of Finance.
(b) The cost of using this service is met by the Department of Finance, who will report the total cost of this arrangement.
(c) The data provided to the outsourced payroll management company is managed by the Department of Finance.
(d) The Department of Finance has advised that there has not been any occurrence of privacy breaches.
(i) Not applicable.
Department of Finance
(a) The payroll function is delivered through a partially outsourced or co-managed arrangement with Ascender Pay (an Australian-based provider). Under this arrangement, Department of Finance staff process payroll transactions using an Ascender Pay system solution to upload payroll data and disperse funds.
(b) $265,286 – the cost is inclusive of the bureau payroll service provided to the Department of Treasury and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer.
(c) The full range of payroll information is held in the Ascender Pay system
(d) No.
(i) Not applicable
Western Australia Treasury Corporation
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Economic Regulation Authority
(a) Fusion5, Australia
(b) $27,007.49
(c) Name, Superannuation details, Tax file number, salary details.
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 3594.
Aboriginal Policy and Coordination Unit
Please refer to Legislative Assembly question on notice 3581.
Western Power
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Synergy
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Horizon Power
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Government Employees Superannuation Board
Yes
(a) Ascender Pay Pty Ltd. They are based in Australia.
(b) Cost for 2017-18 was $23,764 (including GST)
(c) The data provided is:
· Name of Employee
· Date of Birth
· Address
· Tax File Number
· Bank Account Details
· Superannuation Fund Details
· Salary Packaging Details
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
Fire and Emergency Services Superannuation Fund
No
(a-d) Not applicable
Insurance Commission of Western Australia
The Insurance Commission manages its payroll internally and procures IT services to facilitate delivery of these services. The Insurance Commission’s personnel and payroll data resides on Ascender Pay servers. The Insurance Commission is responsible for the preparation and disbursement of the fortnightly payroll.
(a) Ascender Pay Pty Ltd, based in Australia.
(b) $60,000 p.a.
(c) Employee details, including remuneration; name, date of birth, address, next of kin; leave; bank details; training records; time and attendance records; and occupational safety and health records.
(d) No.
(e) Not applicable.
Office of the Auditor General
Yes (a) Aurion, based in Australia
(b) $45,000 per year
(c) Employee details including name, address, bank details, superannuation, tax and all relevant payroll information to process the fortnightly payroll
(d) No
(i) Not applicable
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