❓ Inquiry into the impact of machinery of government changes on staffing levels related to the Local Government Act 1995, revealing a decrease in FTEs and ongoing departmental restructuring.
AnsweredQoN 2917Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the machinery of government (MoG) changes in relation to the former Department of Local Government and Communities and ask: (a) prior to the MoG changes, how many Full Time Equivalent officers (FTEs) including those allocated as "overheads" had duties directly attributable to Local Government Act 1995 activities; (b) please provide a short summary of the methodology and criteria used to allocate staffing from the Department of Local Government and Communities into the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries and the Department of Communities; (c) how many officers applied the methodology and criteria for allocation of staff between the two named Departments: (i) what were the titles of the officers, PSGA equivalent levels and committee titled that applied the above (C); (d) as at 31 January 2018 how many FTE in the Department of Local Government, Sports and Cultural Industries are allocated directly to duties attributable to Local Government Act 1995 related activities; (e) what is the reason for the change in the number of staff FTE allocated to Local Government Act 1995 related duties; and (f) is the Minister confident that the current allocation of staff FTE sufficient to meet the workload Local Government Act 1995 related duties?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 May 2018
Responded by
Minister for Local Government
Response time
8 days
(a) The number of Full Time Equivalents (FTEs), including corporate and executive services, with duties and activities directly attributable to the Local Government Act 1995 was 62 at 30 June 2017. The number not including overheads was 45.
(b) The rationale for allocating resources was based on function. It was agreed that the former divisions of the Department of Local Government and Communities would be distributed to the new Department as follows:
Department of Communities
- Community Building and Services division (excluding Local Government policy function)
- Sector Regulation and Support division - Education and Care Regulatory Unit
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Office of Multicultural Interests
- Sector Regulation and Support division - Local Government function
- Local Government policy function
In most cases, it was clear in which portfolio area the staff predominantly worked and, therefore, where they would be allocated. The corporate and executive services were allocated on the basis of a proportional split.
(c) Six people were involved in the distribution of staff.
(i) Their titles and levels at the time were:
- Director General, Department of Local Government and Communities;
- A/Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries;
- A/Director General, Department of Communities;
- Assistant Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Level 9;
- Executive Director, Regional Services Reform Unit, Class 1; and
- Executive Director, Corporate Services, Department of Local Government and Communities, Level 9.
(d) The number of FTEs, not including corporate and executive services, with duties and activities directly attributable to the Local Government Act 1995 was approximately 37 at 31 January 2018. Corporate and executive services are not able to be accurately accounted for at this time due to ongoing restructuring of the Department.
(e) Some staff have left the Department, either as part of the Government’s Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme, or for personal reasons.
(f) The overall structure of the Department is still being finalised and I trust that the Director General will allocate resources responsibly and appropriately across the Department to achieve the desired outcomes.
(b) The rationale for allocating resources was based on function. It was agreed that the former divisions of the Department of Local Government and Communities would be distributed to the new Department as follows:
Department of Communities
- Community Building and Services division (excluding Local Government policy function)
- Sector Regulation and Support division - Education and Care Regulatory Unit
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
- Office of Multicultural Interests
- Sector Regulation and Support division - Local Government function
- Local Government policy function
In most cases, it was clear in which portfolio area the staff predominantly worked and, therefore, where they would be allocated. The corporate and executive services were allocated on the basis of a proportional split.
(c) Six people were involved in the distribution of staff.
(i) Their titles and levels at the time were:
- Director General, Department of Local Government and Communities;
- A/Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries;
- A/Director General, Department of Communities;
- Assistant Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, Level 9;
- Executive Director, Regional Services Reform Unit, Class 1; and
- Executive Director, Corporate Services, Department of Local Government and Communities, Level 9.
(d) The number of FTEs, not including corporate and executive services, with duties and activities directly attributable to the Local Government Act 1995 was approximately 37 at 31 January 2018. Corporate and executive services are not able to be accurately accounted for at this time due to ongoing restructuring of the Department.
(e) Some staff have left the Department, either as part of the Government’s Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme, or for personal reasons.
(f) The overall structure of the Department is still being finalised and I trust that the Director General will allocate resources responsibly and appropriately across the Department to achieve the desired outcomes.
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