Evans, Sen Christopher

Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform, the Minister for Housing and Homelessness, and the Minister for Community Services and Minister for the Status of Women provide the following answer to the honourable senator's question: ( 1 ) For the 2012-13 financial year, the net effect on the department ' s budget of: (a) The original 1.5 per cent efficiency dividend is $8.9 million. (b) The additional 2.5 per cent efficiency dividend is $11.5 million. (c) Other savings measures as introduced in the 2012-13 Budget papers is ' Nil ' . (2) The Department's primary strategy for managing within budget has been to set balanced budgets early and carefully monitor and regularly review these budgets. In addition, there is a continuing focus on business improvements and reducing operational costs wherever possible. Examples include: Information Technology improvements/savings; reducing travel and increasing the use of videoconferencing; reducing our accommodation footprint; and reducing our publishing/printing costs. ( 3 ) The Department ' s 2012-13 budgeted employee benefits expense is 57% of total expenses. (4) Quantity of expected net reduction: (a) A net reduction in staff is not expected for the 2012-13 financial year. (b) It is too early to predict the quantity of any reduction in consultants and/or contractors for this financial year. ( 5 ) Redundancies in 2012-13: (a) We do not currently have any specific plans or targets for voluntary redundancies. (b) We do not currently have any specific plans or targets for involuntary redundancies. ( 6 ) The Department ' s staffing profile is available in the 2010-11 Annual Report at Appendix B, Table B-2.