Taking the Lead on Savings

The Department of Premier and Cabinet is leading by example when it comes to essential Budget saving measures.

Based on the past year’s organisational structure, DPAC’s budget has been reduced by $2.88 million or 5.6 per cent, which is the highest proportional cut of any agency and is significantly higher than the frontline service agencies.

As part of our savings, the total cost of support for Ministers and Parliamentary Offices is anticipated to be almost $1.3 million less in 2014-15 than the previous Labor-Green Government.

In 2012-13 Labor and the Greens spent $14.569 million, and their budget in 2013-14 was $14.053 million, for Ministers and Parliamentary Office holder support.

Through savings measures we have reduced the cost to an expected $12.741 in 2014-15 including:

• Merging the Premier’s Office with the Tasmanian Government Communications Office, and accommodating three ministerial offices on the one floor on level 10 of the Executive Building, which freed up the Marine Board building;
• Reductions of around $500,000 from reducing the Ministerial Transport Service;
• Reducing the total salary bill and operation of support for Ministers and Parliamentary Offices; and
• Pausing the salaries of Ministerial staff in line with any salary pause applied to State Service employees.
Will Hodgman, Premier