Correctional Services, Human Resources

I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Correctional Services questions about human resource management.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Honourable members would be aware that there is a higher level of sick leave and workers compensation claims within the Department of Correctional Services. In the OCPE annual report of 2004, the average sick leave for the public sector was 7.4 days per FTE.

The highest department was correctional services at 10.2 days per FTE. My questions are:

1. Can the minister confirm whether any of the TVSPs have been taken up by correctional services and, if so, how many?

2. What sections of the correctional services budget are frozen or will be subject to a 4 per cent cut?

3. Why are the tables which list these items in the OCPE report no longer published?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services): I thank the honourable member for her question. In relation to voluntary separation, during 2005-06, selected staff were offered TVSPs consistent with government policy. Eleven work-injured staff, who had been absent from the workplace for a considerable period of time, accepted the offer. None of the department’s supernumerary staff who were offered a TVSP accepted. We had 11 workinjured staff accepting an offer. I am not familiar with the other figures that the honourable member has mentioned. Obviously I do not have the report in front of me, so I will seek some advice and bring back a response for the honourable member.