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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 4234

Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service: Staffing

(Question No. 957)

Mr Morrison asked the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, in writing, on 22 March 2012:

Is it current policy of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to regularly rotate staff working in front line international (a) mail, (b) air freight, and (c) sea freight/cargo, screening areas? If so (i) how often are staff rotated, and (ii) what is the longest time period that a single AQIS employee has been continually employed on mail/freight/cargo screening duties.

Mr Burke: The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

Frontline staff within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are rotated in accordance with the Department's Regional Rotation Principles.

There are no set periods for rotation. Rotation decisions are made at a regional level taking into account a range of factors such as operational requirements, the need for succession planning and the opportunity for staff development.

For operational reasons, one staff member has worked in the freight/cargo operations area in the South East region for fifteen years, albeit in a number of different operational roles and work units over this period.