In excess of $200,000 dollars had been wasted on a consultant developing a “new model” to handle surplus public servants, which was now not being used, Shadow Minister for Finance Rob Lucas said today.
“Senior executives from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet gave evidence to the Legislative Council Budget and Finance Committee that consultant Hunters Management & Consultants had been employed to develop the “new model” for handling surplus employees from the Rann Government’s controversial Shared Services project,” Mr Lucas said.
“In an earth shattering revelation this “new model” evidently involved options such as transferring to new job, retraining or offering a separation package!”
Mr Lucas said Bridgid Connors, Acting Executive Director Services, told the Committee that:
Ms Connors: “The end result of that project was a report detailing a proposed model to manage large numbers of excess employees in the event that that should arise. At this point in time, it has not been deemed necessary to implement that model, given that large numbers of excess employees have not resulted from the formation of Shared Services SA.
Hon R Lucas: “So, we have a $217,000 model we are not using?
Ms Connors: “At this point in time we are not using it, because there is no need to use the model.”
“In a written response in April to the Budget and Finance Committee, Mr Rann’s own department defends the expenditure on the basis it will “assist in establishing a framework for any future need to manage redeployees on a whole-of-government basis”!
“This cost of $217,000 is not included in the Shared Services Office budget and is just another example of the failure of the Rann Government to deliver the annual $60 million in savings from its controversial Shared Services Office project.
“This is a massive waste of taxpayers' money by Mr Rann's own department at a time when the Budget has plunged into deficit and departments are being asked to cut 1,600 jobs and a Commission has been established to find another $750 million in Budget savings.
“There is something wrong with Mr Rann's priorities when more than $200,000 is wasted in this way whilst at the same time families coping with mental health issues are crying out for extra help.”