Opposition asks the Minister for Education about the impact of a public sector recruitment freeze on school cleaning services, alleging reduced cleaning due to unfilled positions. The Minister denies awareness of the issue and outlines exemption processes.

AnsweredQoN 106Legislative Council
Asked
24 February 2016
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

PUBLIC SECTOR RECRUITMENT FREEZE — SCHOOL
CLEANERS
106. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for
Education:
I refer to the freeze on
recruitment.
(1) Is the
minister aware that parents are being notified that due to the freeze, cleaning
positions at some schools cannot be filled and, as a consequence, cleaning is
reduced?
(2) Given an
average yearly turnover of cleaners of around 18 per cent, which is around 300 FTE,
is the minister concerned that between now and 1 July 2016 more schools will
have to reduce cleaning time because they cannot fill cleaner positions?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) No. I am
unaware of any such advice to parents. When the department has been advised
that a position cannot be filled and all other options have been exhausted,
exemptions have been approved or are under consideration.
(2) If a cleaning
position in a school needs to be filled, the principal is able to do so through
mechanisms available within the recruitment freeze. When a position cannot be
filled, the department will request an exemption.

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