Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, , 24:31 to 26:33
Discussion on aligning the department's workforce with government priorities, focusing on frontline employment services and the use of voluntary redundancies to manage staffing mismatches.
Topics: Public service staffing, Employment
Speakers: Simon Duggan, Senator Marielle Smith, Senator Matt O'Sullivan, Senator Paul Scarr
A significant focus in recent months has been ensuring that our workforce and resources remain aligned to the government's priorities and the department's broader accountabilities. In the May budget, the government made an additional investment in frontline employment services, driving an overall increase in the Department's affordable staffing level for 2026-27. Outside frontline employment services, though, the Department's affordable staffing numbers are lower this financial year. There's also a mismatch between the capabilities and APS levels of the staff that we need in frontline employment services and staff in other parts of the department. Therefore, while the focus of our workforce strategy is to build the capability of our staff and allocate them to the areas of greatest need within the department. We've also been actively recruiting into frontline employment services at a time when we've been seeking expressions of interest for voluntary redundancies and incentives to retire. As of 23 October, the Department has made formal voluntary redundancy offers to 101 employees this financial year, of which 91 have been accepted. We also had two of our senior executives accept an invitation and incentive to retire. Importantly, there have not been any involuntary redundancies, and I don't expect any will be required. In making these decisions, our objectives have been to direct the department's resources to the highest priorities, retain and build the capability of our workforce and keep the department financially sustainable over the medium to long term. Thank you, Chair. My colleagues and I look forward to assisting the committee with its questions.
Thank you very much, Secretary. Senators, I'll come to the opposition for the first quarter, Senator O'Sullivan. I also have Senator DeLager seeking the call. We have one hour for this block. I'm in your hands. I would normally do 15-minute blocks at this point. If you're happy with that?
Absolutely.
Yes, if it's possible for you to table a copy of that, that would be appreciated. Secretary, look, I think we already have it. You're already one second ahead of us. Thank you very much. Okay, in that case, um I'll be passing this the call to Senator Scarr and then to Senator. Sorry, Senator O'Sullivan.
I think Senator Scarr.
Senator Senator Scarr and then Senator Delegates. Thank you, Chair.