❓ Hon Steve Martin asks about voluntary redundancies within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), including repeat redundancies and associated costs. The answer provides data on redundancy numbers and costs from 2017-18 to 2024-25 and references regulations regarding re-employment after redundancy.
AnsweredQoN 1125Legislative Council
Asked
11 December 2025
Member
Portfolio
Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; Kimberley
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to all employees of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and I ask: (a) as of 30 June 2025, how many staff employed by the Department had previously accepted a voluntary redundancy for a former role at the Department, earlier iterations of the Department (e.g. after machinery of government changes), or any other Western Australian Government Department(s) or their earlier iterations: (i) at least once; (ii) at least twice; (iii) at least three times; (iv) at least four times; (v) at least five times; and (vi) more than five times; (b) for each of the following years, how many voluntary redundancies were taken by staff employed by the Department: (i) 2017-18; (ii) 2018-19; (iii) 2019-20; (iv) 2020-21; (v) 2021-22; (vi) 2022-23; (vii) 2023-24; and (viii) 2024-25; and (c) for each of the years in (b) what was the total cost of paying out voluntary redundancies for staff employed by the Department?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; Kimberley
Response time
5 days
(a)
The Public Sector Management (Redeployment and Redundancy) Regulations 2014 require that a person who has accepted a voluntary redundancy is not re-employed in the Western Australian public sector during the mandatory restriction period prescribed under Regulation 17. Where a public sector employee returns to public sector employment within the mandatory restriction period, repayment of relevant entitlement is required. The Department ensures compliance with these employment regulations for all current employees.
(b)
Year
Number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff in DPIRD
2017-18
139
2018-19
24
2019-20
46
2020-21
12
2021-22
5
2022-23
3
2023-24
3
2024-25
2
(c)
Year
Total Cost of voluntary redundancies taken by staff in DPIRD
2017-18
$15,011,671.59
2018-19
$2,965,405.92
2019-20
$4,814,692.21
2020-21
$1,365,533.54
2021-22
$547,326.39
2022-23
$446,041.81
2023-24
$485,157.90
2024-25
$426,684.86
The Public Sector Management (Redeployment and Redundancy) Regulations 2014 require that a person who has accepted a voluntary redundancy is not re-employed in the Western Australian public sector during the mandatory restriction period prescribed under Regulation 17. Where a public sector employee returns to public sector employment within the mandatory restriction period, repayment of relevant entitlement is required. The Department ensures compliance with these employment regulations for all current employees.
(b)
Year
Number of voluntary redundancies taken by staff in DPIRD
2017-18
139
2018-19
24
2019-20
46
2020-21
12
2021-22
5
2022-23
3
2023-24
3
2024-25
2
(c)
Year
Total Cost of voluntary redundancies taken by staff in DPIRD
2017-18
$15,011,671.59
2018-19
$2,965,405.92
2019-20
$4,814,692.21
2020-21
$1,365,533.54
2021-22
$547,326.39
2022-23
$446,041.81
2023-24
$485,157.90
2024-25
$426,684.86
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