Page 3054 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 11 September 1990
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As I have already stated repeatedly, no staff will be sacked. Staff reductions will be achieved by natural attrition, placements elsewhere within the ACT Government Service, or, where necessary, by means of a voluntary separation scheme. This Government is committed to sound employer practices for placement, training, counselling and separation of staff. To ensure that staff placements are managed professionally, sympathetically and in accordance with these practices, a special staff placements task force has been established to coordinate placements across the ACT Government Service.
A general saving of 4 per cent has been imposed on most administrative functions within the Government where specific program savings have not been applied, and these savings are expected to be achieved by tighter control over administrative expenditure and better staff usage. As well, the reduction in the vehicle fleet which I announced in May will achieve operational savings of $340,000 in 1990-91 and one-off revenue from the sale of vehicles of $800,000. Additional savings are expected to be available following a further review later this financial year. The Government has also decided to improve the efficiency of vehicle workshop operations. Consolidation arrangements - the subject of current consultations with the unions involved - are expected to achieve initial savings of 10 per cent. This will provide savings of $175,000 this year and $350,000 in 1991-92.
In addition to those measures, the Government has looked for other expenditure reductions. The trade waste operation is duplicating services provided in the private sector and is also running at a loss. It will be offered for sale either as a going concern or for the assets value. Consultations will take place with the unions to settle any necessary redeployment action, but if a sale cannot be achieved the Government will have no option but to discontinue operations at the end of March 1991.
The general bus subsidy to ACTION has been cut by $1.05m. This will be achieved by a review of operational standards and productivity improvements associated with the closure of the Kingston bus depot and the relocation of resources to other depots, principally at Tuggeranong.
Further savings of $300,000 in 1990-91 and $600,000 in 1991-92 have also been identified from the school bus service, which cost $7.7m last year. In accordance with the process of restructuring, negotiations will take place with unions to seek better productivity in operation of school bus runs. Such improvements will lessen the severity of the rationalisation of the services that will be necessary. Rationalisation will focus on lightly loaded services and negotiating with individual schools to change drop-off or pick-up times. The Government will also be looking at whether student bus fares are at a reasonable level. I should emphasise that any services made necessary by the school consolidation process will be provided.
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