In respect of the impact on departmental staffing of the Government’s announcement in April 2010 that the implementation of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme would be delayed until 2013:

(1)   Prior to the announcement, what number of staff were employed in the

(a)   Emissions Trading Division (ETD) of the department, and

(b)   department as a whole.

(2)   How have staffing levels within the

(a)   ETD, and

(b)   department, changed in light of the announcement; and will staffing levels be further changed, if so, how.

(3)   How many retrenchments and redundancies

(a)   have occurred since the announcement, and

(b)   are anticipated to occur.

(4)   What redeployments

(a)   have occurred since the announcement, and

(b)   are anticipated to occur.

(5)   What is the nature of staffing changes, if any, in the context of a very significant part of the workload of the department having been reduced as a result of the announcement.

(1)  

(a)   As at 30 April 2010, the Emissions Trading Division (ETD) had 39 full time equivalent employees.

(b)   As at 30 April 2010, the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency had 1,048 employees.

(2)  

(a)   From the period 27 April to 30 June 2010, ETD documented its work on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), completed emissions-intensive trade-exposed assessments to provide eligible industries with partial exemptions under the Renewable Energy Target, and advised on non-CPRS climate change mitigation policy. At 30 June 2010, ETD ceased to exist and its mitigation policy functions were divided between two new divisions: the Climate Strategy and Markets Division and the Land Division.

(b)   Employees that held a permanent ongoing position associated with the announcement of a delay of the CPRS have been placed into funded vacancies arising from the integration of the energy efficiency programs into the Department.

(3)   No retrenchments or redundancies:

(a)   have occurred since the announcement; and

(b)   none are presently anticipated to occur.

(4)  

(a)   All permanent Australian Public Service (APS) employees (other than three employees on long term leave) who were associated with the CPRS in the Department have been redeployed into funded vacancies arising from the integration of the energy efficiency programs into the Department.

(b)   The three remaining employees on long term leave will be redeployed on their return to duty.

(5)   As at the response to part (4) all permanent APS employees who were redeployed in respect of the announcement in April 2010 that the implementation of the CPRS would be delayed are now working within roles associated with the vacancies arising from the integration of the energy efficiency programs into the Department.