Western Australia Treasurer Troy Buswell

New round of voluntary separations offered

Victor P Taffa

Treasurer Troy Buswell today announced a new round of voluntary separations would be offered to Western Australian public servants.

“Early estimates indicate up to 300 employees are likely to accept the latest offer.” Mr Buswell said.

“This is just another example of the State Government’s sound financial management and promise to employ an efficient and effective public sector.”

The latest offer follows the successful voluntary separation offer announced and funded in last year’s Budget which led to the voluntary separation of 469 employees, including 328 from management and administration roles.

The latest offer will bring the total number of surplus employees the Government has assisted to exit the public sector to almost 800.

“In 2008-09, employee costs in the general Government sector grew by 12.6 % -nearly double the budget projection of 7.0 % – to $8.8 Billion.” the Treasurer said.

“This included growth in the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees of approximately 4.2 % and significant increases in wage rates to a number of occupational groups.”

“By helping surplus employees exit the public service we can ensure taxpayers’ money is being spent on delivering vital services to the community.”

Today’s offer will be applicable for all appropriation-funded general Government sector agencies and includes the following features:

• Full employment separation costs, up to an amount of $30 Million, will be met by supplementary funding. This funding will be included (at a global level) in the upcoming State Budget;

• Agencies will be allowed to retain 50 % of the recurrent salary savings as an incentive to participate and to help meet existing cost pressures;

• The remaining 50 % (estimated at about $15 Million per year from 2010-11) will be returned to the Consolidated Account;

• Officers who wish to take up this offer will be required to exit the public sector by June 30, 2010.

Employees who take up the redundancy offer would be entitled to three weeks’ pay for every year of service to a maximum of 52 weeks, in addition to holiday and long service leave entitlements (and, where applicable, 12 weeks’ pay in lieu of notice ).