Question On Notice No. 830 asked in the Legislative Council on 13 March 2018 by Hon Martin Aldridge
Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Treasurer
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme (VTSS), and I ask:
(a) how many offers have been made to public sector employees per month since the scheme's commencement;
(b) of those identified in (a), how many have been accepted by employees;
(c) of those identified in (b), how many employees have departed the public sector arising from the VTSS;
(d) what are the 'restriction on employment' provisions of the VTSS;
(e) what specific targets has the Government set for each public sector agency under the VTSS; and
(f) has consideration been given to the staff of Moora Residential College and the Camp School's, set to close at the end of the 2018 school year, to allow staff to accept the VTSS but permitting them to work the remainder of 2018 until the expected closure to minimize disruption and potential staff shortages for these important education facilities?
Answered on 10 April 2018
(a) – (f) The Voluntary Targeted Separation Scheme (VTSS) is a Budget repair tool to assist agencies in meeting Machinery of Government (MoG) savings resulting from the amalgamation of a number of government departments as well as assist in achieving workforce renewal by enabling agencies to retain 20% of the savings. The VTSS is open to all general government employees, though priority is being given to agencies impacted by the MoG changes (which took effect from 1 July 2017).
Agency targets are Cabinet-in-confidence and were provided as a guide to assist agencies and Ministers with implementation of the scheme. While the reductions will vary between agencies depending on factors like MoG changes, the size and role of individual agencies and other impacts, all agencies are expected to contribute in order to meet the overall reduction target of 3,000 employees.
Individuals receiving a severance payment cannot be re-employed within the public sector for a period of time equalling the total number of weeks in respect to the redundancy payment made to the individual. It does not include any periods associated with the employee's leave component. The restriction relates to public sector employment and as such does not apply to local government, public universities, schedule 1 or Commonwealth employment.
Agencies are currently working with the Public Sector Commission to progress the scheme via individual expression of interest (EOI) processes. Progress will be reported to Cabinet during the 2018-19 Budget process and detailed in the 2018-19 Budget Papers.