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Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Page: 2984

Defence: Strategic Reform Program

(Question No. 474)

Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 22 March 2011:

With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications - Civilian Workforce':

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010, what reduction has there been in the number of Australian Public Service staff or contractors employed in implementing:

(a) efficiency improvements;

(b) civilianisation;

(c) support productivity improvements; and

(d) contractor conversion (reduction to contractors).

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

(a) Implementation of the efficiency improvements component of the Strategic Reform Program (SRP), which includes Shared Services initiatives and business improvement within Groups and Services, has realised 213 reductions in the number of Australian Public Service (APS) full-time equivalent employees.

(b) Civilianisation is part of the workforce reform element of Workforce Shared Services Reform (WSSR) and forms part of Defence's move to establish the best workforce mix of its non-combat related workforce, allowing the military workforce to primarily undertake combat or combat related roles. Implementation of the civilianisation component of the SRP will increase APS full time equivalent positions by 152 over financial year 2010-11 with a commensurate reduction of 152 military personnel for the same period. Due to phased implementation the increase in APS from civilianisation has been 31 to the end of December 2010.

(c) Implementation of the support productivity improvements component of the SRP is scheduled to commence in financial year 2014-15. This program is a continuous improvement plan, following on from the completed implementation of the other WSSR components of the SRP.

(d) Implementation of the contractor conversion component of the SRP has led to 248 conversions undertaken in the period 1 July to 31 December 2010. The effect of theses conversions is that 248 contractor positions have been reduced, and there has been a corresponding increase of 248 APS full time equivalent personnel.