Download Fragment

Monday, 27 February 2012
Page: 918

Foreign Affairs and Trade: Staffing

(Question Nos 1117 and 1131)

Senator Humphries asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade, upon notice, on 12 September 2011:

(1)   Have staffing numbers in agencies within the Minister's portfolio been reduced as a result of the efficiency dividend and/or other budget cuts; if so, in which areas and at what classification.

(2)   Are there any plans for staff reduction in agencies within the Minister's portfolio; if so, can details be provided i.e. reduction target, how this will be achieved, services/programs to be cut etc.

(3)   What changes are underway or planned for graduate recruitment, cadetships or similar programs, and if reductions are envisaged can details be provided, including reasons, target numbers etc.

Senator Conroy: The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade have provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

DFAT

(1)   There has been no reduction in the average staffing levels in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) as a result of the efficiency dividend or other budget cuts in 2010-11 or 2011-12.

(2)   There are no plans for a reduction in the average staffing level.

(3)   No changes are underway or planned for DFAT's graduate recruitment. DFAT has no plans to reduce its intake for graduate recruitment, cadetships or similar programs.

AusAID

(1)   No.

(2)   No.

(3)   In 2012 the AusAID Graduate Program will increase from 25 to 50 participants and the program period will be extended from eleven months to two years.

Austrade

(1)    There have been no staff reductions as a result of the efficiency dividend . At 1 July 2011, Austrade had reduced, by 17, offshore locally engaged positions at various levels in the established markets of North America (Denver, Honolulu, Kansas, Miami, San Diego and Montreal) and Europe (Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Dublin) . These reductions were guided by a comprehensive review of Austrade announced by the Minister for Trade on 17 May 2011 which redistributed resources to maximise the organisation ' s value to Australian companies doing business internationally and also met the portfolio savings target of $2.223 million per year .

(2)   See response to 1.

(3)   A graduate program and a trade commissioner development program will commence in 2011-12.

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC)

(1)   No.

(2)   No.

(3)   Nil.

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

(1)   No.

(2)   No.

(3)   Nil.