Parliamentary Questions

(a) the total dollar amount spent on employees on fixed term contracts and casual staff by each department and agency under the Minister's control;
(b) the total number of employees on fixed term contracts and casual staff by department/agency and with information concerning their individual position and level;
(c) how many employees on fixed term contracts and casual staff are currently employed in each department/agency under the Minister's control;
(d) how many employees on fixed term contracts and casual staff have worked in the same position for longer than six months;
(e) under what criteria or process may fixed term contract or casual staff be made permanent; and
(f) will the Minister list the types of contracts used for the purpose of short term employment?
Answered on 13 September 2017

Office of the Environmental Protection Authority

(a) $1 383 293

(b) 20

(c) 18

(d) 9

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) Direct employment contracts are made pursuant to Clause 64(b) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

Department of Environment Regulation

(a) $2 656 294

(b) 29

(c) 28

(d) 18

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) Direct employment contracts are made pursuant to Clause 64(b) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

Keep Australia Beautiful Council

(a) $57 039

(b) 3

(c) 2

(d) Nil

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) Direct employment controls are made pursuant to Clause 64(b) of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

For the former Department of Parks and Wildlife

(a) $29,042,328

(b) Collation of information concerning each individual fixed term or casual staff member’s position title and level is considered to be an undue use of agency resources. For the remainder of what the question asks, please refer to clause c)

(c) 371 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees as at 30 June 2017(excluding SES).

(d) 271 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees who had been paid basic hours each pay continuously for the past six months (229) and those who had remained in their current positions for more than six months (42) as at 30 June 2017 (excluding SES).

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) Fixed term contracts or casual contracts were primarily used to fill short-term vacancies for seasonal work, or where the position was for work for a fixed period of time, often linked to external funding, or when the position was under review and/or when there was no guarantee of permanent ongoing funding. The appointment of fixed term contract or casual employees was made in accordance with Public Sector Commissioner’s Instruction No.2 ‘Filling a Public Sector Vacancy’ and the relevant Award or Agreement.

For the Zoological Parks Authority

(a) $3,012,879

(b) Collation of information concerning each individual fixed term or casual staff member’s position title and level is considered to be an undue use of agency resources. For the remainder of what the question asks, please refer to clause c)

(c) 115 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees as at 30 June 2017 (excluding SES).

(d) 90 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees who had been paid basic hours each pay continuously for the past six months (27) and those who had remained in their current positions for more than six months (63) as at 30 June 2017 (excluding SES).

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) The Zoological Parks Authority operates 365 days per year and primarily uses casual employees to provide flexibility in the workforce noting around the unpredictability of visitation and bookings. Fixed term contracts were used to fill short-term vacancies where there was a requirement to fill a position for a one-off period of relief (e.g. leave coverage), and/or when there was no guarantee of permanent ongoing employment.

For the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority

(a) $2,901,357

(b) Collation of information concerning each individual fixed term or casual staff member’s position title and level is considered to be an undue use of agency resources. For the remainder of what the question asks, please refer to clause c)

(c) 91 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees as at 30 June 2017 (excluding SES).

(d) 52 – included any paid fixed term contract and casual employees who had been paid basic hours each pay continuously for the past six months (37) and those who had remained in their current positions more than six months (15) as at 30 June 2017 (excluding SES).

(e) As per WA Labor’s 2017 election commitment, processes and criteria for transition from fixed and casual employment to permanency are currently under review.

(f) Fixed term contracts or casual contracts were primarily used to fill short-term vacancies for seasonal work, or where the position was for work for a fixed period of time, often linked to external funding, or when the position was under review and/or when there was no guarantee of permanent ongoing funding.