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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 2809

Defence: Staffing

(Question No. 1589)

Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications - Military Workforce': As at 31 December 2011, what increase or reduction has there been in civilian personnel employed, full time and part time, in the department and in the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) since 1 July 2008.

Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The workforce data detailed in the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications' are based on approved allocations at the time of publication and reflect full-time equivalent average numbers for each financial year.

On 30 July 2008 Defence (including DMO) employed 20,439 full-time equivalent average APS personnel and approximately 704 contractors (noting that contractor reporting mechanisms were not mature in July 2008). As at 31 December 2011, Defence (including DMO) was employing 21,891 full-time equivalent average APS personnel and 416 contractors.

This represents an increase in APS personnel of +1,452 (+7.1 per cent), and a reduction in contractors of approximately -288 (-40.9 per cent) since 1 July 2008. Of these overall changes, the APS increase in Defence was +881 (+5.9 per cent) while in DMO it was +571 (+10.5 per cent). The number of contractors in Defence decreased by -138 (-27.7 per cent) while in DMO they decreased by -150 (-72.8 per cent).