❓ Shadow Treasurer Wyatt questions the Treasurer regarding a public sector FTE freeze/cap, its scope, and projected figures. The Treasurer deflects, criticizes Wyatt's figures, and vaguely outlines flexibility for new programs, highlighting spending differences from the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 285Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS — FULL-TIME
EQUIVALENTS CAP
285. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the former Treasurer's media statement of
17 April 2012, in which he announced a two-year freeze in the growth of the
number of public sector workers; and to the current Treasurer's
statement during the estimates committee hearings that it is actually an FTE
cap rather than a freeze, and that the cap is to be applied with some degree of
flexibility. I ask —
(1) Was the former Treasurer correct that it is a freeze, or
is the Treasurer correct that it is a cap?
(2) In what circumstances will the freeze/cap be applied
flexibly?
(3) According
to the former Treasurer, the current 2011–12 freeze/cap is 37 763 FTE;
what will be the expected FTE amount at the end of 2014–15?
(4) Will the
Treasurer advise the house of when the freeze/cap is reached?
EQUIVALENTS CAP
285. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Treasurer:
I refer to the former Treasurer's media statement of
17 April 2012, in which he announced a two-year freeze in the growth of the
number of public sector workers; and to the current Treasurer's
statement during the estimates committee hearings that it is actually an FTE
cap rather than a freeze, and that the cap is to be applied with some degree of
flexibility. I ask —
(1) Was the former Treasurer correct that it is a freeze, or
is the Treasurer correct that it is a cap?
(2) In what circumstances will the freeze/cap be applied
flexibly?
(3) According
to the former Treasurer, the current 2011–12 freeze/cap is 37 763 FTE;
what will be the expected FTE amount at the end of 2014–15?
(4) Will the
Treasurer advise the house of when the freeze/cap is reached?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4)
I may not be as competent as the former Treasurer, but I say to the shadow
Treasurer that there are a lot more than 37 000 public servants; there are
about 110 000 or thereabouts.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Does it apply to the
entire public service?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How can the shadow Treasurer be 70 000 out in the number of public servants?
How can he be so wrong? How can he be so inaccurate?
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr
Speaker, can I seek some clarification from the Treasurer? Will the FTE cap
apply to the entire public service or not?
The SPEAKER : That
is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for West Swan, I do not need any more contributions from you
today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The ability of this government to maintain moderation in wage claims and
moderation in the total number of FTEs
within the public sector is a significant reform and a total contrast to what
happened under the previous government. There has been restriction and control
of the growth in the number of public servants, with the exception of
front-line services in education, health and policing, as has always been the
case. The flexibility comes, for example, through a cap or freeze or whatever
you want to call it, in terms of a department; but if cabinet makes a decision
to initiate a new program, that will result in some relaxation to employ people
to deliver that program. We only have to look at the dramatic difference in the
growth of the public sector under this government compared with the previous
government. That has allowed us to direct public taxpayers' funds into
much-needed capital works.
I may not be as competent as the former Treasurer, but I say to the shadow
Treasurer that there are a lot more than 37 000 public servants; there are
about 110 000 or thereabouts.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Does it apply to the
entire public service?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How can the shadow Treasurer be 70 000 out in the number of public servants?
How can he be so wrong? How can he be so inaccurate?
Point of Order
Mr B.S. WYATT : Mr
Speaker, can I seek some clarification from the Treasurer? Will the FTE cap
apply to the entire public service or not?
The SPEAKER : That
is not a point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for West Swan, I do not need any more contributions from you
today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The ability of this government to maintain moderation in wage claims and
moderation in the total number of FTEs
within the public sector is a significant reform and a total contrast to what
happened under the previous government. There has been restriction and control
of the growth in the number of public servants, with the exception of
front-line services in education, health and policing, as has always been the
case. The flexibility comes, for example, through a cap or freeze or whatever
you want to call it, in terms of a department; but if cabinet makes a decision
to initiate a new program, that will result in some relaxation to employ people
to deliver that program. We only have to look at the dramatic difference in the
growth of the public sector under this government compared with the previous
government. That has allowed us to direct public taxpayers' funds into
much-needed capital works.
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