❓ Dr. Nahan questions the Premier about the cost of the Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme (VTSS) and its impact on Western Australians facing increased household bills. The Premier defends the scheme as a cost-saving measure that prevents further public sector growth despite increased demand for services.
AnsweredQoN 1015Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
''STATE OF THE
SECTOR: 2018'' — VOLUNTARY TARGETED SEPARATION SCHEME
1015. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain to struggling Western Australians, who have been slugged by
$700 per household increases in bills by his government, why he has spent, as
identified in the budget papers, $300 million
to reduce the public sector by 300 people—an eye-watering cost of $1 million
per redundancy?
Mr B.S. Wyatt : That makes no
sense whatsoever.
SECTOR: 2018'' — VOLUNTARY TARGETED SEPARATION SCHEME
1015. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier explain to struggling Western Australians, who have been slugged by
$700 per household increases in bills by his government, why he has spent, as
identified in the budget papers, $300 million
to reduce the public sector by 300 people—an eye-watering cost of $1 million
per redundancy?
Mr B.S. Wyatt : That makes no
sense whatsoever.
AnswerView source ↗
Yes, it is the end of the year; it
is the last question time of the year. I will make some allowances for the
Leader of the Opposition for asking —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : No. Seriously,
I will give him a break today for asking a nonsensical question.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time. You got off lightly yesterday.
If I had been in the chair, you would have been on your way home.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In the spirit
of Christmas, I will give the Leader of the Opposition a break for asking a nonsensical
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will be as
polite as I can. The government had, as we announced in last year's
budget, a target of 3 000 public servants under the voluntary targeted
separation scheme in order to save the taxpayers' money. We have not
quite achieved that, but we have ended up somewhere close to that figure. But
at the same time, when there is an increase in enrolments in schools and an
increase in patients in hospitals, of course more staff will be needed to cater
for that. Had we not put in place the voluntary targeted separation scheme, we
would have 3 000 additional public servants on the figures that are contained
within that report. That is the reality. We believe on this side of the house,
and indeed on half of that side of the house when we look at the numbers of the
government, that we need to provide world-class and quality services in
schools, hospitals, community safety, environmental protection and all those
things. Although we also understand that we need to live within our means, we
also need to—every minister is doing this—provide excellent
services to the people of Western Australia.
Legislative Assembly Chamber — Camera Operator
Access — Statement by Speaker Statement
The SPEAKER : Member, before
you ask your question, I have approved the presence of a camera operator in the
public gallery upstairs for the first 15 minutes of question time today to
video file footage of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly chamber.
is the last question time of the year. I will make some allowances for the
Leader of the Opposition for asking —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : No. Seriously,
I will give him a break today for asking a nonsensical question.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time. You got off lightly yesterday.
If I had been in the chair, you would have been on your way home.
Mr M. McGOWAN : In the spirit
of Christmas, I will give the Leader of the Opposition a break for asking a nonsensical
question.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will be as
polite as I can. The government had, as we announced in last year's
budget, a target of 3 000 public servants under the voluntary targeted
separation scheme in order to save the taxpayers' money. We have not
quite achieved that, but we have ended up somewhere close to that figure. But
at the same time, when there is an increase in enrolments in schools and an
increase in patients in hospitals, of course more staff will be needed to cater
for that. Had we not put in place the voluntary targeted separation scheme, we
would have 3 000 additional public servants on the figures that are contained
within that report. That is the reality. We believe on this side of the house,
and indeed on half of that side of the house when we look at the numbers of the
government, that we need to provide world-class and quality services in
schools, hospitals, community safety, environmental protection and all those
things. Although we also understand that we need to live within our means, we
also need to—every minister is doing this—provide excellent
services to the people of Western Australia.
Legislative Assembly Chamber — Camera Operator
Access — Statement by Speaker Statement
The SPEAKER : Member, before
you ask your question, I have approved the presence of a camera operator in the
public gallery upstairs for the first 15 minutes of question time today to
video file footage of proceedings in the Legislative Assembly chamber.
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