Health, Staff Replacements

A question put forward to the Minister for Health regarding permanent staff replacement.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK:

1. Will the Minister for Health confirm how many permanent staff have replaced agency staff as indicated by the Auditor-General's figures (‘Salaries andWages’ have increased by $5. 8 million from $138.3 to $144.1 million, while ‘Contractors and Agency Staff’ have reduced from $24.4 to $16.95 million) as listed on pages 566-567 of Part B: Volume II of the Auditor-General's Report, 2002-2003?

2. In what agencies are these additional employees positioned?

The Hon. T.G. ROBERTS: The Minister for Health has provided the following response:

1. In accordance with the Department of Human Services (DHS) savings requirements, for 2002-03, 42 full time equivalent (FTE) permanent staff replaced agency staff. The decrease in ‘Contractors and Agency Staff’ also reflects the near completion of a number of projects, in particular the department's OACIS Project.

2. DHS has employed 39 FTE staff in their central office, with a further three full time equivalent staff employed in the Aboriginal Housing Authority.