❓ Hon Stephen Dawson questions the Minister for Disability Services about the outsourcing of Disability Services Commission accommodation services, focusing on concerns within the non-government sector and potential impacts on staff. The Minister defends the decision, citing support from the sector and measures to manage staff transitions.
AnsweredQoN 451Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY
SERVICES COMMISSION — ACCOMMODATION SERVICES
451. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the Barnett government's decision to
outsource 60 per cent of the Disability Services Commission accommodation
services to the non-government sector.
(1) Is the
minister aware of increasing concerns in the non-government sector about the
outsourcing process?
(2) What
implications will the federal Fair Work Amendment (Transfer of Business) Act
2012 have for non-government sector organisations that plan to take on work
previously undertaken by the public sector?
(3) Will the
government provide increased funding to the non-government sector to enable the
NGOs to employ DSC staff whose jobs in the public sector will no longer exist?
(4) Has DSC
been involved in any discussion with Serco about the outsourcing of
accommodation services?
SERVICES COMMISSION — ACCOMMODATION SERVICES
451. Hon STEPHEN DAWSON to the
Minister for Disability Services:
I refer to the Barnett government's decision to
outsource 60 per cent of the Disability Services Commission accommodation
services to the non-government sector.
(1) Is the
minister aware of increasing concerns in the non-government sector about the
outsourcing process?
(2) What
implications will the federal Fair Work Amendment (Transfer of Business) Act
2012 have for non-government sector organisations that plan to take on work
previously undertaken by the public sector?
(3) Will the
government provide increased funding to the non-government sector to enable the
NGOs to employ DSC staff whose jobs in the public sector will no longer exist?
(4) Has DSC
been involved in any discussion with Serco about the outsourcing of
accommodation services?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) This
government has made the decision to support people with disability to exercise
individual choice and control over their support services, and the
non-government sector has been supportive of this decision. I refer the member
to at least three media releases that I was able to access in the short time
available.
One from the Centre for Cerebral
Palsy commended the Western Australian government for its announcement in
October to transfer services currently provided by the Disability Services
Commission to non-government disability service providers.
One from Nulsen Disability
Services states that Nulsen continues to support the Western Australian
government on the restructure of accommodation services. Mr Trewern went on to
say that Nulsen continues to support the Western Australian government in the
restructure of disability accommodation services. He said that Nulsen had
experienced firsthand how handing over of non-government services to the
not-for-profit sector can achieve successful outcomes.
One from National Disability
Services WA around December last year commended the Disability Services
Commission for the careful way in which it was handling this transition, and
that whereas some governments may have simply contracted out the current
services en bloc, the WA government through the Disability Services Commission
was making sure that individuals and families had specific information et cetera,
and it referred to how exceptionally good that process was.
(2)–(3)
It is up to individual organisations to determine whether the legislation
applies to them. The commission has ceased recruitment into its accommodation
services so that as existing staff retire or resign, the vacated positions will
become available for any freed-up staff as opportunities to be deployed.
Usually about 100 positions become available through natural attrition each
year. The commission will continue to provide an accommodation service, though
reduced in size. The commission is currently working with representative unions
to identify strategies for staff affected by the changes to minimise any
impact.
(4) No.
(1) This
government has made the decision to support people with disability to exercise
individual choice and control over their support services, and the
non-government sector has been supportive of this decision. I refer the member
to at least three media releases that I was able to access in the short time
available.
One from the Centre for Cerebral
Palsy commended the Western Australian government for its announcement in
October to transfer services currently provided by the Disability Services
Commission to non-government disability service providers.
One from Nulsen Disability
Services states that Nulsen continues to support the Western Australian
government on the restructure of accommodation services. Mr Trewern went on to
say that Nulsen continues to support the Western Australian government in the
restructure of disability accommodation services. He said that Nulsen had
experienced firsthand how handing over of non-government services to the
not-for-profit sector can achieve successful outcomes.
One from National Disability
Services WA around December last year commended the Disability Services
Commission for the careful way in which it was handling this transition, and
that whereas some governments may have simply contracted out the current
services en bloc, the WA government through the Disability Services Commission
was making sure that individuals and families had specific information et cetera,
and it referred to how exceptionally good that process was.
(2)–(3)
It is up to individual organisations to determine whether the legislation
applies to them. The commission has ceased recruitment into its accommodation
services so that as existing staff retire or resign, the vacated positions will
become available for any freed-up staff as opportunities to be deployed.
Usually about 100 positions become available through natural attrition each
year. The commission will continue to provide an accommodation service, though
reduced in size. The commission is currently working with representative unions
to identify strategies for staff affected by the changes to minimise any
impact.
(4) No.
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