❓ A parliamentary question seeks data on emergency service volunteer leave across WA government entities, but the government declines to provide detailed figures due to resource constraints. The question aims to assess policy awareness and uptake.
AnsweredQoN 853Legislative Council
Asked
18 August 2022
Member
Portfolio
Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department of Productivity and Labor Reform Circular to Departments and Authorities No. 2 of 2001 titled Paid Leave for Emergency Service Volunteers . For each Department, Agency or Government Trading Entity under your portfolio, I ask: (a) how do you inform your employees of this policy; and (b) for the past two financial years: (i) how many employees have requested paid leave as an emergency service volunteer; (ii) how many employees have had a request refused; (iii) how many total hours were granted; and (iv) how many total hours were refused?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 September 2022
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations
Response time
5 days
(a) Advice from each agency is provided below.
Department of the Premier and Cabinet Provisions that mirror the Paid Leave for Emergency Service Volunteers Circular are included in the relevant awards and agreements under which all Department staff are employed. Staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their leave entitlements as part of their contract of employment and during the Department’s induction process.
Public Sector Commission Public Sector Commission staff can access Emergency Service Leave under clause 35 of the Public Service Award 1992 . Staff are informed of the Award in their employment contract and induction paperwork. Staff are provided with advice on leave entitlements on request.
Infrastructure Western Australia Leave options are discussed with staff upon their commencement with the agency.
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal Salaries and Allowances Tribunal staff are employed by the Public Sector Commission. Staff can access Emergency Service Leave under the Public Service Award 1992 (the Award). Staff are informed of the Award in their employment contract and in the staff induction paperwork. Staff are provided advice on their leave entitlements on request.
Lotterywest Employees are entitled to Emergency Services leave as detailed in the Lotterywest Leave Management Policy. All policies are subject to a regular review cycle and are updated to reflect the latest provisions if amended. This policy is available to all staff on the Lotterywest intranet.
Department of Treasury Employees are informed of leave policies when commencing at the Department of Treasury as part of induction process.
Economic Regulation Authority Employees are advised at induction and reference to this paid leave is included in the HR Manual available on the intranet.
Government Employees Superannuation Board A copy of the relevant circular is provided to employees when they enquire about this type of leave.
Insurance Commission of Western Australia Induction on-boarding process and the Insurance Commission’s leave policy, available through the internal intranet.
Office of the Auditor General Office of the Auditor General (OAG) employees are informed of their entitlement to paid Emergency Service leave through a “Leave entitlements” guide published on the OAG’s intranet.
Western Australian Treasury Corporation Western Australian Treasury Corporation is covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth) and is not covered by the circular in question. Notwithstanding this, WATC provides unpaid community services leave consistent with Part 2 National Employment Standards, Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth). The provision of this unpaid leave is communicated in our employment policies and in individual contracts.
(b) (i – iv) This detailed information is not readily available and would require considerable time to collate and prepare, which would divert staff away from their normal duties. It is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of government resources to provide this information, noting that this question has been asked to all Ministers for all Government Departments, Agencies and Government Trading Enterprises’.
Department of the Premier and Cabinet Provisions that mirror the Paid Leave for Emergency Service Volunteers Circular are included in the relevant awards and agreements under which all Department staff are employed. Staff are encouraged to familiarise themselves with their leave entitlements as part of their contract of employment and during the Department’s induction process.
Public Sector Commission Public Sector Commission staff can access Emergency Service Leave under clause 35 of the Public Service Award 1992 . Staff are informed of the Award in their employment contract and induction paperwork. Staff are provided with advice on leave entitlements on request.
Infrastructure Western Australia Leave options are discussed with staff upon their commencement with the agency.
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal Salaries and Allowances Tribunal staff are employed by the Public Sector Commission. Staff can access Emergency Service Leave under the Public Service Award 1992 (the Award). Staff are informed of the Award in their employment contract and in the staff induction paperwork. Staff are provided advice on their leave entitlements on request.
Lotterywest Employees are entitled to Emergency Services leave as detailed in the Lotterywest Leave Management Policy. All policies are subject to a regular review cycle and are updated to reflect the latest provisions if amended. This policy is available to all staff on the Lotterywest intranet.
Department of Treasury Employees are informed of leave policies when commencing at the Department of Treasury as part of induction process.
Economic Regulation Authority Employees are advised at induction and reference to this paid leave is included in the HR Manual available on the intranet.
Government Employees Superannuation Board A copy of the relevant circular is provided to employees when they enquire about this type of leave.
Insurance Commission of Western Australia Induction on-boarding process and the Insurance Commission’s leave policy, available through the internal intranet.
Office of the Auditor General Office of the Auditor General (OAG) employees are informed of their entitlement to paid Emergency Service leave through a “Leave entitlements” guide published on the OAG’s intranet.
Western Australian Treasury Corporation Western Australian Treasury Corporation is covered by the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth) and is not covered by the circular in question. Notwithstanding this, WATC provides unpaid community services leave consistent with Part 2 National Employment Standards, Fair Work Act 2009 (Cwlth). The provision of this unpaid leave is communicated in our employment policies and in individual contracts.
(b) (i – iv) This detailed information is not readily available and would require considerable time to collate and prepare, which would divert staff away from their normal duties. It is not considered to be a reasonable or appropriate use of government resources to provide this information, noting that this question has been asked to all Ministers for all Government Departments, Agencies and Government Trading Enterprises’.
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