❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department of Agriculture and Food WA's Lake Grace office downsizing and its impact on local services. The Minister's response disputes the downsizing claim and highlights increased service levels.
AnsweredQoN 1235Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD - LAKE GRACE OFFICE
I refer to the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia’s office in Lake Grace, which is to be downsized and managed from Narrogin. (1) Is the minister aware that not only is the office to be managed from Narrogin, but also its present staff will be reduced by half, from 12 to six? (2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE
I refer to the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia’s office in Lake Grace, which is to be downsized and managed from Narrogin. (1) Is the minister aware that not only is the office to be managed from Narrogin, but also its present staff will be reduced by half, from 12 to six? (2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(1) Is the minister aware that not only is the office to be managed from Narrogin, but also its present staff will be reduced by half, from 12 to six? (2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(1) Is the minister aware that not only is the office to be managed from Narrogin, but also its present staff will be reduced by half, from 12 to six? (2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(2) How will the reduced staff, operating without the benefit of a local manager, provide an adequate and acceptable level of service to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent? (3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(3) Is the minister aware that control programs pertaining to wild dogs, skeleton weed, starlings, water deficiency and other biosecurity measures are serviced out of the Lake Grace office and are not pertinent to Narrogin? (4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(4) What provisions will be made to ensure that these control programs will continue to be managed from the Lake Grace office and will be properly resourced to meet the ongoing needs of that area? (5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(5) Will the minister inform the house why this move should not be seen by my constituents as a move to abandon them and the important Agricultural Region, which contributes significantly to the gross state product? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
I thank Hon Anthony Fels for some notice of the question. (1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(1) As of today, the Lake Grace office has 8.5 staff equivalents, made up of three biosecurity officers, one natural resource management officer, three farming systems officers and 1.5 administration officers. This staffing level represents an increase of two staff positions at the Lake Grace office compared with the level of 18 months ago. (2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(2)-(4) There has been an increase in the level of service in the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent, especially in the critical area of biosecurity related to wild dogs, skeleton weed and starlings. These shires have benefited from an increase in personnel from one staff member only 18 months ago to three staff members presently. It should be noted that the project manager for the Department of Agriculture and Food’s new Agline phone advisory service is based at Lake Grace. Agline is a service provided to the whole of the agricultural area. (5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
(5) I assure the honourable member that the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia remains committed to servicing the agriculture and food industries across the state in the best and most efficient means possible. That commitment does not mean there will not be some changes in how that service is delivered, due to our recognising changing social expectations and the difficulty in attracting staff to some country town locations. DAFWA is focused on ensuring service is delivered on a regional basis with the best staff it can recruit. The move to a regional approach and the combined management of the Narrogin and Lake Grace offices means that Narrogin staff will, when required, provide additional services to the Shires of Lake Grace, Kulin and Kent.
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