❓ Hon. Darren West questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food regarding the impact of a public sector recruitment freeze on the Department's service delivery and regulatory functions. The Minister acknowledges the issue and pending exemption requests.
AnsweredQoN 234Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR RECRUITMENT FREEZE —
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
234. Hon DARREN WEST to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food:
I have a question without notice.
I refer to the minister's
letter to the Treasurer, as reported in The
West Australian yesterday, which asserted that the high number of vacancies
in his department was impacting negatively on services delivery and increasing
the risk of regulatory failure. Does the minister stand by these assertions?
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD
234. Hon DARREN WEST to the Minister for
Agriculture and Food:
I have a question without notice.
I refer to the minister's
letter to the Treasurer, as reported in The
West Australian yesterday, which asserted that the high number of vacancies
in his department was impacting negatively on services delivery and increasing
the risk of regulatory failure. Does the minister stand by these assertions?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for no
notice of the question! I would just like to say that what actually happened
was that staff had been advertised for before the freeze came in; the freeze came
in while that was being done. All departments in that position could put in for
an exemption. Another classic example was at Muchea saleyards where the
stockades are taking over the running of the saleyards; that is, the board is
actually doing it. Twelve employees are needed there and that need coincided
with the freezing of full-time equivalents on 1 July. As the minister, I wrote
to the Treasurer from one department to the next department asking him for an
exemption. I have not had an answer to those letters yet.
Hon Ken Travers : Do you stand by your comments? That's
what he asked you.
Hon KEN BASTON : The comments were in the press. I stand
by what I am telling you are the facts. It is between one department and
another department seeking an exemption. It is quite common for that to happen.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
notice of the question! I would just like to say that what actually happened
was that staff had been advertised for before the freeze came in; the freeze came
in while that was being done. All departments in that position could put in for
an exemption. Another classic example was at Muchea saleyards where the
stockades are taking over the running of the saleyards; that is, the board is
actually doing it. Twelve employees are needed there and that need coincided
with the freezing of full-time equivalents on 1 July. As the minister, I wrote
to the Treasurer from one department to the next department asking him for an
exemption. I have not had an answer to those letters yet.
Hon Ken Travers : Do you stand by your comments? That's
what he asked you.
Hon KEN BASTON : The comments were in the press. I stand
by what I am telling you are the facts. It is between one department and
another department seeking an exemption. It is quite common for that to happen.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order!
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