Enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme to reduce surplus jobs

12/4/02
Western Australian public servants are being offered an enhanced voluntary redundancy scheme in a bid to shed more than 400 surplus jobs from the public sector before June 30.
Treasurer Eric Ripper said today that the Government was determined to see that resources were redirected to high priority areas of service delivery.
Mr Ripper said there were too many surplus employees on the Government payroll for whom there was no productive employment.
"We intend to provide a generous voluntary severance package on the condition that surplus employees take up the offer before the end of the financial year," he said.
"Currently there are around 430 redeployees on the payroll and if they all accepted these voluntary severance packages, the cost would be around $20million.
"These savings can then be redirected to core services like health, education and community safety."
Mr Ripper said the standard public service redundancy package included a payment of two weeks' pay for every year of continuous service up to a maximum of 46 weeks' pay.
The special package being offered prior to June 30 included three weeks' pay for each year of continuous service to a maximum of 52 weeks' pay, making it one of the most generous packages in the country.
Severance packages provided after June 30 would revert to the standard package.
The Treasurer said the Government would also take a revitalised approach to redeployment practices to assist in placing surplus employees in vacant positions.
This would include the application of regulatory powers to direct redeployees to accept employment offers and to direct chief executive officers to make offers of employment to redeployees.
Mr Ripper said the voluntary redundancy scheme would have no impact on the Government's plans to employ hundreds of police, nurses and teachers during its first four-year term.
"This is a serious attempt to make better use of public sector resources while, at the same time, strengthening the budget bottom line in future years," he said.
Treasurer's office: 9222 8788