Department of Lands and Planning – Output Groups
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WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly
16/04/2010
124. Department of Lands and Planning – Output Groups
Ms Purick to MINISTER for Lands and Planning
QUESTION
ANSWER
Answered on 19/05/2010
Page 10 of 10
1. How many personnel are employed to perform Human Resources functions within the Department? At what position level are they employed?
2. How many personnel are employed to perform or assist in the Payroll functions within the Department? At what position level are they employed?
None. Whole of Government Payroll Services are provided by DBE. (DBE)
3. How many instances have occurred where the department has made errors in respect to payments to or allowances for members of the department? Can you please these instances?
10 Overpayments
4 Unknown
1 Payee reverted back to part-time hours
1 Payee overpaid due to leave without pay application not being submitted to payroll by pay cut off.
1 Payee was overpaid due to a contract error. Paid at AO5 level instead of AO4.
1 Payee overpaid due to a recruitment error
1 Payee paid post EBA rate
1 Payee was supposed to be on HDA but was sick for entire period
4. What interdepartmental charges are applied to managing the payroll? Is there a differential in cost for different position levels, if so what are these differences in cost?
Refer Attachment Question 4
5. How are costs determined between departments in relation to payroll costs, including transfers and relocation of staff?
6. What is the budget of the Human Resources functional area of the Department?
Employee payments - $1,118,000
Travel - $36,000
Accommodation - $14,924
Training - $249,200
8. Do the same staff manage executive contracts as manage non-executive staff members? If not, how many in manage executive contracts and what are their position levels, and how many manage non-executive contract staff and what are their levels?
DBE’s Whole of Government Payroll Services manages non executive, and contract executive.
9. How many complaints have been made in the Department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment?
Nil complaints have been made to the Department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment.
10. How much has been spent to date on advertising employee positions, and can you provide a breakdown of these costs?
Refer Attachment Question 10
11. What is the attrition rate of staff in the human resources area of the department?
27%
12. What is the current state of employment in the Human resources department, that is, are all position filled;
Yes
If not are there any positions with staff on higher duties, if so how many, at what level and for how long;
One person occupying an AO6 position at the AO5 level. Has been on HDA for 12 months, during which time the role has changed and position is now going through JES process.
and are their positions vacant, if so how many, at what level and for how long?
No
Relocation Costs
13. In 2009, how much has been spent on relocation cost for commencement of employment and either completion or termination of employment (removalists, airfares, accommodation and allowances) in the Department.
$187,443.46
14. Please provide a breakdown per business unit.
Refer Attachment Question 14
15. How much is budgeted for relocation and other appointment and termination expenses in 2009/10.
$225,839 is budgeted for recruitment expenses which include relocation and appointment costs. Termination costs are considered a salary cost.
Marketing
16. How much was spent by the Department in 2009 on advertising and marketing programs (and up to 1 April 2010).
18. As of 1 April 2010, what is the current staffing of the department, by level?
(a) 287
(b) and how many were filled by persons acting in positions; or
(b) 135
(c) are temporary appointments?
(c) 259*
*These figures were prepared by DBE and include Board Members, which have not been included in the answer to question 18.
20. What was the rate of turnover of staff in the department in 2009?
DPI for the period of 1 July 2009 – 4 December 2009 turnover 24.71%.
21. What is the rate per level?
DPI Refer Attachment Question 21
81 Vacant positions
23. How long, in total days, have permanent positions been vacant in the department?
On average it takes 64 days to recruit to vacant positions.
24. In relation to all vacant positions (250 positions), what is the breakdown of recruitment actions by:
(a) Selection process commenced; and
12% of positions are in the selection process.
(b) selection process (including position advertising) not commenced.
88% of positions are not in the selection process
25. How many staff are currently employed on a temporary contract?
Temporary contracts are used for various reasons such as backfilling employees on extended leave or on transfer to other agencies, or in situations where a position is a project position that is required for only a short-term. Temporary contracts are also used where recruitment action is occurring to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis.
26.
In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many positions have been advertised by “expression of interest”?
DPI – 75
DLP – 11
27. In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many temporary contracts have been extended, broken down by the number of times extended?
Nil
29. If permission has been sought, what recruitment action has taken place?
32. In 2009, how many positions have been reclassified in the department? What are the levels of those positions?
33. How many permanent unattached employees do you have in your agency? What levels are they?
Refer Attachment Question 33
34. How much has been spent on training and skilling unattached employees?
The training provided was Project Management, Excel, Coxwain, Elements of Ship Boarding Safety and Government Investigations.
35. How many unattached employees have successfully gained nominal positions within the agency or gained employment in another agency in 2009?
Two unattached employees have gained nominal positions within the agency.
Six unattached employees have gained employment in other agencies.
36. How many have resigned?
Two unattached employees have resigned.
37. What is the average cost of recruiting staff to the department?
$1,763.88
38. How much is allocated on average, to each staff member for training and improvement?
$458.56
(Calculated as training expenditure = $277,889.61 divided by headcount = 606)
39. What is the average length of stay of staff in the department? Please break this down by position level.
Leave Liabilities
40. What is the policy of the department of carry over recreation leave, in particular, how many weeks are allowed to be carried over between years?
41. As of 1 April 2010, how many staff have more than this amount carried over, and what is the cost of this leave being held?
Not applicable, the department manages recreation leave in accordance with the UCA.
42. In relation to NTPS staff as of 1 April 2010:
(a) What is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave. What is the financial value of that leave;
Refer Attachments Question 42a
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each position level;
Refer Attachments 42 b
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
8233.34 weeks
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009?
(a) What is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave? What is the financial value of that leave;
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each employee level;
Refer Attachments Question 43 b
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
1225.98 weeks
NB: Individual sick leave balance does not include pro-rata entitlement after last credit.
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009, at each employee level?
Refer Attachment Question 43 d
44. How many people received workers compensation 2009, at what position level and geographic location and how long for each person?
Refer Attachment Question 44
45. As at today (01/04/2010), how many workers are currently on workers compensation? At what level and is there an expected return date?
Refer Attachment Question 45
46. In 2009 how many workers are or were on sick leave or extended leave (excluding recreation leave), longer than 3 weeks, at what level, and for what reason? Are there any still on extended leave?
Refer Attachment Question 46
47. Do you have any personnel under the old Commonwealth superannuation scheme and if so, what is the liability? What are the optimal retirement ages for such staff based on superannuation benefit definitions, what are ages of those people, and what are their position levels in the public service? If there are nurses, teachers or police in the CSS, how many are there, at what level and what are their ages?
48. Do they still have NT public servants who were employed in the 80’s and eligible for return flight to Adelaide every 2 years? How many and at what level?
Refer Attachment Question 48
Entry Level Recruitment
49. In relation to Apprentices and Graduates, in 2009:
(a) how many graduates started with the department;
Refer Attachment Question 49a
(b) how many have completed the year;
Refer Attachment Question 49b
(c) how many how won nominal positions;
0 won nominal positions, as reporting period is within the 1st year of service.
(d) how many have left the NTG, and what was the time each stayed within the NTG before leaving; and
Nil
(e) how much sick leave has been taken on average by graduates and apprentices?
Refer Attachment Question 49e
50. In relation to Indigenous Employees, in 2009:
(a) how many employees do you have in your department that recognise themselves as indigenous;
9
(b) what are the levels of their positions held;
Refer Attachment Question 50b - e
(c) how many at each level;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(d) how many are tenured and at what level;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(e) how many are temporary and at what levels;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(f) how many are acting up in positions and at what level;
Refer Attachment Question 50f
(g) how many have completed the year;
9
(h) How many have left the NTG; and
3
(i) How much sick leave was taken, on average?
The Government considers it inappropriate to ask about sick leave usage based on a person’s ethnicity.
Allowances
51. In regard to employee entitlements, for 2009:
(a) In addition to salary how much was paid in employee allowances;
DPI - $4,653,624.06
DLP - $1,076,770.12
(b) what are these allowances, to what level do they apply and what is the annual estimated cost; and
The annual estimated cost for employee allowances in DLP = $1,292,124.00
(c) do these allowances attract the 9% Superannuation Guarantee Levy, and if so, which allowances?
All allowances were paid in accordance with the PSEMA requirements.
NTPS Code of Conduct
52. How many credit cards have been issued to department staff?
49
53. How many repayment transactions (and the value) for personal items and services are outstanding?
None
54. How many reports of the improper use of Information Technology have been made?
None
55. How many reports resulted in formal disciplinary action?
There were no cases of formal disciplinary action.
Insurance
56. How much was spent on insurance expenses in 2009, further broken down by worker and employee insurances, physical plant and equipment insurances and other insurances?
With the exception of question 57, the answer is there was no insurance expense in 2009 as government agencies self-insure.
57. What areas of the department are self-insured? What areas are commercially insured? If there are areas that are commercially insured, who provides this insurance, when is it due for renewal and what is the cost of this insurance provision and does it attract any thresholds under which insurance is not provided or any payments on item replacement?
The Department self-insures apart the Darwin Bus Service.
Refer to Attachment 57 for details of this insurance.
Climate Change
58. How many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2009?
322.7 (DBE)
59. How many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2008?
The Department of Lands and Planning was formed in December 2010, as such details for 2008 are not available.
60. What programs and strategies were introduced to reduce CO2 emissions across the department in 2009?
The Department has formed an ‘green group’ to raise awareness of energy usage and sustainability issues within the Department, building on from the implementation of energy saving measures that have been implemented throughout the Department’s building portfolio in previous years.
Centralised procedures have been implemented to ensure new and replacement DLP Fleet vehicles are selected utilising the NTG Green Fleet standards (Functional Categories Policy) Requests for vehicles falling outside the standard must be justified for approval by the Chief Executive.
61. Has a target for departmental CO2 emissions been set for the coming financial year -
(a) If yes, what % reduction is that from 2009; and
(b) If no, why has a target not been set.
7% (Fleet Vehicle component only)
Vehicles
62. How much was spent on vehicles by the Department in 2009?
$ 913,694.13
63. How many vehicles does the Department have responsibility for?
76 (DBE)
64. What is the change, if any, in these vehicle numbers from 2008?
0 (DBE)
65. What proportion of those vehicles meet the emission standard of 5.5 out of 10 under the Commonwealth Government’s Green Vehicle Guide?
80%(DBE)
66. How many vehicles are home garaged?
44
67. What is the policy in relation to home garaging vehicles?
DLP has a Vehicle Management policy that clearly stipulates conditions for home garaging and private use.
o Section 3 of that policy states that officers are able to apply for home garaging approval for NT Government plated vehicles ‘where there is a requirement to conduct departmental activities outside normal working hours’. Vehicles in this category are not available for general private use, however are able to be driven directly between work and home.
o Section 4 of the policy allows for non-contract officers at the EO1 level and above to be allocated vehicles with private number plates at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer. Officers at the level are allocated a vehicle and use it for reasonable private use subject to a number of conditions which are set out in the policy.
68. What position levels have vehicles attached or are allowed to home garage?
Executive Contract Officers have vehicles as part of the employment contract.
Non-contract officers at EO1 and equivalent level (ie. top of range P4) and above may be allocated vehicles with private plates at discretion of Chief Executive Officer.
Travel and Accommodation
69. How much was spent on travel in 2009, broken down by intrastate, interstate and international fares, accommodation and other expenses?
Refer Attachment 69
Utilities
70. What was the cost of power and water to the department in 2009?
71. What is the projected cost for power and water to the department in 2010?
Public Events
72. List the public events/conferences/forums that were sponsored by the department from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010 and what are projected for 2010/11?
Refer Attachment Question 72
73. What is the level of sponsorship provided in terms of financial support or in kind support?
All support was financial as such refer to answer for Question 72.
Advertising
74. What is the department’s budget for advertising for the 09/10 reporting year?
76. What advertising campaigns have been undertaken or will be undertaken by the department in 2009/10?
77. In 2009 how many consultancies were let in the year, at what cost, how many were NT firms and how many interstate and what was the value of those intra-territory and those interstate?
WRITTEN QUESTIONS
11th Assembly
16/04/2010
124. Department of Lands and Planning – Output Groups
Ms Purick to MINISTER for Lands and Planning
QUESTION
- In relation to the portfolio areas within the Department of Lands and Planning would you kindly respond to the following questions by output group within the department:
HR Unit Questions:
3. How many instances have occurred where the department has made errors in respect to payments to or allowances for members of the department? Can you please these instances?
4. What interdepartmental charges are applied to managing the payroll? Is there a differential in cost for different position levels, if so what are these differences in cost?
5. How are costs determined between departments in relation to payroll costs, including transfers and relocation of staff?
6. What is the budget of the Human Resources functional area of the Department?
7. What is the breakdown of the Human Resources budget to employee payments, travel, accommodation and training?
8. Do the same staffs manage executive contracts as manage non-executive staff members? If not, how many in manage executive contracts and what are their position levels, and how many manage non-executive contract staff and what are their levels?
9. How many complaints have been made in the Department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment?
10. How much has been spent to date on advertising employee positions, and can you provide a breakdown of these costs?
11. What is the attrition rate of staff in the human resources area of the department?
12. What is the current state of employment in the Human resources department, that is, are all position filled, if not are there any positions with staff on higher duties, if so how many, at what level and for how long, and are their positions vacant, if so how many, at what level and for how long?
14. Please provide a breakdown per business unit.
15. How much is budgeted for relocation and other appointment and termination expenses in 2009/10.
17. What was each of those programs and what was the cost of each of those programs?
19. How many of these positions were substantively filled and how many were filled by persons acting in positions or are temporary appointments?
20. What was the rate of turnover of staff in the department in 2009?
21. What is the rate per level?
22. How many vacant positions are there in the Department as a whole?
23. How long, in total days, have permanent positions been vacant in the department?
24. In relation to all vacant positions, what is the breakdown of recruitment actions by:
- (a) selection process commenced; and
(b) selection process (including position advertising) not commenced.
26. In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many positions have been advertised by “expression of interest”?
27. In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many temporary contracts have been extended, broken down by the number of times extended?
28. How many times has the department sought permission from the Commissioner to extend a contract beyond a third extension?
29. If permission has been sought, what recruitment action has taken place?
30. Per position level, what is the average length of time taken for recruitment from advertising to successful applicant?
31. What is the number of positions that have been filled by the recruitment of an existing public servant, and how many from the general public?
32. In 2009, how many positions have been reclassified in the department? What are the level of those positions?
33. How many permanent unattached employees do you have in your agency? What levels are they?
34. How much has been spent on training and skilling unattached employees? What was the training provided?
35. How many unattached employees have successfully gained nominal positions within the agency or gained employment in another agency in 2009.
36. How many have resigned?
37. What is the average cost of recruiting staff to the department?
38. How much is allocated on average, to each staff member for training and improvement?
39. What is the average length of stay of staff in the department? Please break this down by position level.
41. As of 1 April 2010, how many staff have more than this amount carried over, and what is the cost of this leave being held?
42. In relation to NTPS staff as of 1 April 2010:
(a) what is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave. What is the financial value of that leave;
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each position level;
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009?
(a) what is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave? What is the financial value of that leave;
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each employee level;
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009, at each employee level?
45. As at today, how many workers are currently on workers compensation? At what level and is there an expected return date?
46. In 2009 how many workers are or were on sick leave or extended leave (excluding recreation leave), longer than 3 weeks, at what level, and for what reason? Are there any still on extended leave?
47. Do you have any personnel under the old Commonwealth superannuation scheme and if so, what is the liability? What are the optimal retirement ages for such staff based on superannuation benefit definitions, what are ages of those people, and what are their position levels in the public service? If there are nurses, teachers or police in the CSS, how many are there, at what level and what are their ages?
48. Do they still have nt public servants who were employed in the 80’s and eligible for return flight to Adelaide every 2 years? How many and at what level?
(a) how many graduates started with the department;
(b) how many have completed the year;
(c) how many how won nominal positions;
(d) how many have left the NTG, and what was the time each stayed within the NTG before leaving; and
(e) how much sick leave has been taken on average by graduates and apprentices?
(a) how many employees do you have in your department that recognise themselves as indigenous;
(b) what are the levels of their positions held;
(c) how many at each level;
(d) how many are tenured and at what level;
(e) how many are temporary and at what levels;
(f) how many are acting up in positions and at what level;
(g) how many have completed the year;
(h) how many have left the NTG; and
(i) how much sick leave was taken, on average?
(a) In addition to salary how much was paid in employee allowances;
(b) what are these allowances, to what level do they apply and what is the annual estimated cost; and
(c) do allowances these attract the 9% Superannuation Guarantee Levy, and if so, which allowances?
53. How many repayment transactions (and the value) for personal items and services are outstanding?
54. How many reports of the improper use of Information Technology have been made?
55. How many reports resulted in formal disciplinary action?
57. What areas of the department are self-insured? What areas are commercially insured? If there are areas that are commercially insured, who provides this insurance, when is it due for renewal and what is the cost of this insurance provision and does it attract any thresholds under which insurance is not provided or any payments on item replacement?
59. How many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2008?
60. What programs and strategies were introduced to reduce CO2 emissions across the department in 2009?
61. Has a target for departmental CO2 emissions been set for the coming financial year -
- (a) If yes, what % reduction is that from 2009; and
(b) If no, why has a target not been set.
63. How many vehicles does the Department have responsibility for?
64. What is the change, if any, in these vehicle numbers from 2008?
65. What proportion of those vehicles meet the emission standard of 5.5 out of 10 under the Commonwealth Government’s Green Vehicle Guide?
66. How many vehicles are home garaged?
67. What is the policy in relation to home garaging vehicles?
68. What position levels have vehicles attached or are allowed to home garage?
71. What is the projected cost for power and water to the department in 2010?
73. What is the level of sponsorship provided in terms of financial support or in kind support?
75. How much is year to date expenditure? Please breakdown into newspaper, radio and TV?
76. What advertising campaigns have been undertaken or will be undertaken by the department in 2009/10?
77. In 2009 how many consultancies were let in the year, at what cost, how many were NT firms and how many interstate and what was the value of those intra-territory and those interstate?
ANSWER
Answered on 19/05/2010
- Answer to Written Question No. 124 – Department of Lands and Planning – Output Groups
Page 10 of 10
1. How many personnel are employed to perform Human Resources functions within the Department? At what position level are they employed?
- Refer Attachment Question 1
2. How many personnel are employed to perform or assist in the Payroll functions within the Department? At what position level are they employed?
None. Whole of Government Payroll Services are provided by DBE. (DBE)
3. How many instances have occurred where the department has made errors in respect to payments to or allowances for members of the department? Can you please these instances?
10 Overpayments
4 Unknown
1 Payee reverted back to part-time hours
1 Payee overpaid due to leave without pay application not being submitted to payroll by pay cut off.
1 Payee was overpaid due to a contract error. Paid at AO5 level instead of AO4.
1 Payee overpaid due to a recruitment error
1 Payee paid post EBA rate
1 Payee was supposed to be on HDA but was sick for entire period
4. What interdepartmental charges are applied to managing the payroll? Is there a differential in cost for different position levels, if so what are these differences in cost?
Refer Attachment Question 4
5. How are costs determined between departments in relation to payroll costs, including transfers and relocation of staff?
- Costs are agreed between agency managers on a case by case basis. Generally, the recruiting agency covers relocation costs. With regard to Transfer, dates are agreed between the agencies and DBE payroll is notified of date of action.
6. What is the budget of the Human Resources functional area of the Department?
- $1,898,000 (Net)
$2,006,000 (Total Expenditure)
Employee payments - $1,118,000
Travel - $36,000
Accommodation - $14,924
Training - $249,200
8. Do the same staff manage executive contracts as manage non-executive staff members? If not, how many in manage executive contracts and what are their position levels, and how many manage non-executive contract staff and what are their levels?
DBE’s Whole of Government Payroll Services manages non executive, and contract executive.
9. How many complaints have been made in the Department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment?
Nil complaints have been made to the Department in relation to workplace bullying and harassment.
10. How much has been spent to date on advertising employee positions, and can you provide a breakdown of these costs?
Refer Attachment Question 10
11. What is the attrition rate of staff in the human resources area of the department?
27%
12. What is the current state of employment in the Human resources department, that is, are all position filled;
Yes
If not are there any positions with staff on higher duties, if so how many, at what level and for how long;
One person occupying an AO6 position at the AO5 level. Has been on HDA for 12 months, during which time the role has changed and position is now going through JES process.
and are their positions vacant, if so how many, at what level and for how long?
No
Relocation Costs
13. In 2009, how much has been spent on relocation cost for commencement of employment and either completion or termination of employment (removalists, airfares, accommodation and allowances) in the Department.
$187,443.46
14. Please provide a breakdown per business unit.
Refer Attachment Question 14
15. How much is budgeted for relocation and other appointment and termination expenses in 2009/10.
$225,839 is budgeted for recruitment expenses which include relocation and appointment costs. Termination costs are considered a salary cost.
Marketing
16. How much was spent by the Department in 2009 on advertising and marketing programs (and up to 1 April 2010).
- Refer Attachment Question 16
- Refer Attachment Question 16
18. As of 1 April 2010, what is the current staffing of the department, by level?
- Refer Attachment Question 18
(a) 287
(b) and how many were filled by persons acting in positions; or
(b) 135
(c) are temporary appointments?
(c) 259*
*These figures were prepared by DBE and include Board Members, which have not been included in the answer to question 18.
20. What was the rate of turnover of staff in the department in 2009?
DPI for the period of 1 July 2009 – 4 December 2009 turnover 24.71%.
21. What is the rate per level?
DPI Refer Attachment Question 21
- DLP Turnover information is not available for DLP in 2009 as the agency was not created until December 2009.
81 Vacant positions
23. How long, in total days, have permanent positions been vacant in the department?
On average it takes 64 days to recruit to vacant positions.
24. In relation to all vacant positions (250 positions), what is the breakdown of recruitment actions by:
(a) Selection process commenced; and
12% of positions are in the selection process.
(b) selection process (including position advertising) not commenced.
88% of positions are not in the selection process
25. How many staff are currently employed on a temporary contract?
| Employment Classification | Headcount | % of DLP Headcount |
| Executive Contract Officers | 29 | 5% |
| Graduates & Trainees | 11 | 2% |
| Other | 88 | 15% |
 | 128 | |
26.
In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many positions have been advertised by “expression of interest”?
DPI – 75
DLP – 11
27. In the period 1 January 2008 to 1 April 2010, how many temporary contracts have been extended, broken down by the number of times extended?
- Refer Attachment Question 27
Nil
29. If permission has been sought, what recruitment action has taken place?
- Nil
- Refer Attachment Question 30
- Refer Attachment Question 31
32. In 2009, how many positions have been reclassified in the department? What are the levels of those positions?
| Original Position Level | No. of Positions |
AO2 | 2 |
AO4 | 1 |
AO5 | 3 |
T3 | 1 |
T4 | 1 |
Total | 8 |
33. How many permanent unattached employees do you have in your agency? What levels are they?
Refer Attachment Question 33
34. How much has been spent on training and skilling unattached employees?
- $2,390
The training provided was Project Management, Excel, Coxwain, Elements of Ship Boarding Safety and Government Investigations.
35. How many unattached employees have successfully gained nominal positions within the agency or gained employment in another agency in 2009?
Two unattached employees have gained nominal positions within the agency.
Six unattached employees have gained employment in other agencies.
36. How many have resigned?
Two unattached employees have resigned.
- Three unattached employees are on maternity leave, leave without pay or on approved leave prior to retirement.
37. What is the average cost of recruiting staff to the department?
$1,763.88
- (Calculated as total relocation and recruitment advertising costs = $299,859 divided by total transfers in and commencements = 170)
38. How much is allocated on average, to each staff member for training and improvement?
$458.56
(Calculated as training expenditure = $277,889.61 divided by headcount = 606)
39. What is the average length of stay of staff in the department? Please break this down by position level.
- Due to the agency restructure, PIPS is unable to provide this information at 31/03/2010. This information can be provided but is a significant project.
Leave Liabilities
40. What is the policy of the department of carry over recreation leave, in particular, how many weeks are allowed to be carried over between years?
- As per Section 45.7 of the NTPS 2008-2010 Union Collective Agreement (UCA), where an employee has in excess of 60 days (or 90 days in the case of a compulsory transferee), the CEO may, on giving a minimum of two months notice, direct the employee to take up to one quarter of available recreation leave.
The department manages recreation leave in accordance with the UCA.
41. As of 1 April 2010, how many staff have more than this amount carried over, and what is the cost of this leave being held?
Not applicable, the department manages recreation leave in accordance with the UCA.
42. In relation to NTPS staff as of 1 April 2010:
(a) What is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave. What is the financial value of that leave;
Refer Attachments Question 42a
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each position level;
Refer Attachments 42 b
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
8233.34 weeks
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009?
3985 days
(a) What is the total amount of accrued leave in the department, broken down by long service leave and recreation leave? What is the financial value of that leave;
- Refer Attachments Question 43a
(b) what is the highest individual amount of accrued leave at each employee level;
Refer Attachments Question 43 b
(c) what is the current total of sick leave entitlement of employees in the department; and
1225.98 weeks
NB: Individual sick leave balance does not include pro-rata entitlement after last credit.
(d) how many days sick leave were taken in 2009, at each employee level?
Refer Attachment Question 43 d
44. How many people received workers compensation 2009, at what position level and geographic location and how long for each person?
Refer Attachment Question 44
45. As at today (01/04/2010), how many workers are currently on workers compensation? At what level and is there an expected return date?
Refer Attachment Question 45
46. In 2009 how many workers are or were on sick leave or extended leave (excluding recreation leave), longer than 3 weeks, at what level, and for what reason? Are there any still on extended leave?
Refer Attachment Question 46
- Due to the way data is recorded and reported, DBE can report on staff on extended leave as at 31/03/10 but not leave over 2009-10 at this time. (DBE)
47. Do you have any personnel under the old Commonwealth superannuation scheme and if so, what is the liability? What are the optimal retirement ages for such staff based on superannuation benefit definitions, what are ages of those people, and what are their position levels in the public service? If there are nurses, teachers or police in the CSS, how many are there, at what level and what are their ages?
- NT Treasury will be providing an answer to this question on a whole of government basis considering sufficient disaggregated information is not available at an agency level to answer the question.
48. Do they still have NT public servants who were employed in the 80’s and eligible for return flight to Adelaide every 2 years? How many and at what level?
Refer Attachment Question 48
Entry Level Recruitment
49. In relation to Apprentices and Graduates, in 2009:
(a) how many graduates started with the department;
Refer Attachment Question 49a
(b) how many have completed the year;
Refer Attachment Question 49b
(c) how many how won nominal positions;
0 won nominal positions, as reporting period is within the 1st year of service.
(d) how many have left the NTG, and what was the time each stayed within the NTG before leaving; and
Nil
(e) how much sick leave has been taken on average by graduates and apprentices?
Refer Attachment Question 49e
50. In relation to Indigenous Employees, in 2009:
(a) how many employees do you have in your department that recognise themselves as indigenous;
9
(b) what are the levels of their positions held;
Refer Attachment Question 50b - e
(c) how many at each level;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(d) how many are tenured and at what level;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(e) how many are temporary and at what levels;
Refer Attachment Question 50b – e
(f) how many are acting up in positions and at what level;
Refer Attachment Question 50f
(g) how many have completed the year;
9
(h) How many have left the NTG; and
3
(i) How much sick leave was taken, on average?
The Government considers it inappropriate to ask about sick leave usage based on a person’s ethnicity.
Allowances
51. In regard to employee entitlements, for 2009:
(a) In addition to salary how much was paid in employee allowances;
DPI - $4,653,624.06
DLP - $1,076,770.12
(b) what are these allowances, to what level do they apply and what is the annual estimated cost; and
The annual estimated cost for employee allowances in DLP = $1,292,124.00
(c) do these allowances attract the 9% Superannuation Guarantee Levy, and if so, which allowances?
All allowances were paid in accordance with the PSEMA requirements.
NTPS Code of Conduct
52. How many credit cards have been issued to department staff?
49
53. How many repayment transactions (and the value) for personal items and services are outstanding?
None
54. How many reports of the improper use of Information Technology have been made?
None
55. How many reports resulted in formal disciplinary action?
There were no cases of formal disciplinary action.
Insurance
56. How much was spent on insurance expenses in 2009, further broken down by worker and employee insurances, physical plant and equipment insurances and other insurances?
With the exception of question 57, the answer is there was no insurance expense in 2009 as government agencies self-insure.
57. What areas of the department are self-insured? What areas are commercially insured? If there are areas that are commercially insured, who provides this insurance, when is it due for renewal and what is the cost of this insurance provision and does it attract any thresholds under which insurance is not provided or any payments on item replacement?
The Department self-insures apart the Darwin Bus Service.
Refer to Attachment 57 for details of this insurance.
- Department of Lands and Planning has one insurance policy with the Territory Insurance Office - Public Liability Insurance for the Old Town Hall Ruins - $1128.60.
Climate Change
58. How many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2009?
322.7 (DBE)
59. How many tonnes of CO2 did the department emit in 2008?
The Department of Lands and Planning was formed in December 2010, as such details for 2008 are not available.
60. What programs and strategies were introduced to reduce CO2 emissions across the department in 2009?
The Department has formed an ‘green group’ to raise awareness of energy usage and sustainability issues within the Department, building on from the implementation of energy saving measures that have been implemented throughout the Department’s building portfolio in previous years.
Centralised procedures have been implemented to ensure new and replacement DLP Fleet vehicles are selected utilising the NTG Green Fleet standards (Functional Categories Policy) Requests for vehicles falling outside the standard must be justified for approval by the Chief Executive.
61. Has a target for departmental CO2 emissions been set for the coming financial year -
(a) If yes, what % reduction is that from 2009; and
(b) If no, why has a target not been set.
7% (Fleet Vehicle component only)
Vehicles
62. How much was spent on vehicles by the Department in 2009?
$ 913,694.13
63. How many vehicles does the Department have responsibility for?
76 (DBE)
64. What is the change, if any, in these vehicle numbers from 2008?
0 (DBE)
65. What proportion of those vehicles meet the emission standard of 5.5 out of 10 under the Commonwealth Government’s Green Vehicle Guide?
80%(DBE)
66. How many vehicles are home garaged?
44
67. What is the policy in relation to home garaging vehicles?
DLP has a Vehicle Management policy that clearly stipulates conditions for home garaging and private use.
o Section 3 of that policy states that officers are able to apply for home garaging approval for NT Government plated vehicles ‘where there is a requirement to conduct departmental activities outside normal working hours’. Vehicles in this category are not available for general private use, however are able to be driven directly between work and home.
o Section 4 of the policy allows for non-contract officers at the EO1 level and above to be allocated vehicles with private number plates at the discretion of the Chief Executive Officer. Officers at the level are allocated a vehicle and use it for reasonable private use subject to a number of conditions which are set out in the policy.
68. What position levels have vehicles attached or are allowed to home garage?
Executive Contract Officers have vehicles as part of the employment contract.
Non-contract officers at EO1 and equivalent level (ie. top of range P4) and above may be allocated vehicles with private plates at discretion of Chief Executive Officer.
Travel and Accommodation
69. How much was spent on travel in 2009, broken down by intrastate, interstate and international fares, accommodation and other expenses?
Refer Attachment 69
Utilities
70. What was the cost of power and water to the department in 2009?
| 2009-10
As at 30 April 2010 |
| Power$384,050 |
| Water$84,892 |
| Total$468,942 |
71. What is the projected cost for power and water to the department in 2010?
| 2010-11 - Projected Costs |
| Power $483,903(5% increase) |
| Water$122,244(20% increase) |
Public Events
72. List the public events/conferences/forums that were sponsored by the department from 1 January 2009 to 1 April 2010 and what are projected for 2010/11?
Refer Attachment Question 72
73. What is the level of sponsorship provided in terms of financial support or in kind support?
All support was financial as such refer to answer for Question 72.
Advertising
74. What is the department’s budget for advertising for the 09/10 reporting year?
- Budget is dependant on the individual campaign and the importance and relevance of communicating information to the NT Public.
- Budget is dependant on the individual campaign and the importance and relevance of communicating information to the NT Public.
Newspaper: $177 556
Radio: $36 680
Television: $171 394
Total: $385 630
76. What advertising campaigns have been undertaken or will be undertaken by the department in 2009/10?
- Refer Attachment Question 16
From 2 April 2010 – 30 June 2010 the following advertising campaigns are planned to commence:
Check your Speedo
Drink Driving – Point of no return
Building Moratorium
77. In 2009 how many consultancies were let in the year, at what cost, how many were NT firms and how many interstate and what was the value of those intra-territory and those interstate?
- Creative Territory a Northern Territory company was the only consultancy used for advertising in the year.
Last updated: 04 Aug 2016