Published Thursday, 30 August, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Andrew Cripps
Regions and mine safety protected in re-shaped DNRM
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps has today announced a cost savings program for the Department of Natural Resources and Mines that minimises the impact on rural and regional Queensland and maintains investment in mine safety.
Mr Cripps said the process of reviewing the services and programs delivered by DNRM into the future had been finalised, and communication with affected staff has begun.
“I have made it abundantly clear through this process that I wanted to minimise the impact of this restructure on rural and regional Queensland, where a loss of public sector positions can have a disproportionate effect,” Mr Cripps said.
“I am satisfied that, in consultation with senior Departmental managers, our savings program will protect the frontline services this Department offers to all Queenslanders, and that we have minimised job losses in the bush.
“In line with the Newman Government’s commitment to regulatory reform, we have carefully considered which positions and programs are no longer required, and have identified 413 positions that cannot be supported.
“A number of these positions are already vacant, and will not be filled, meaning 360 staff will be directly affected by the restructure.”
Mr Cripps said a significant number of these employees will leave having expressed an interest in doing so, and that the majority of positions identified are in south-east Queensland.
“I’d also like to make it very clear there will be absolutely no loss of frontline mine safety and health officers from my Department, to ensure Queenslanders working in the resources sector remain protected by one of the world’s best mine safety systems.
“Instead we have identified savings in areas of the Department that had, under Labor, become fixated on over-regulating landholders in areas such as vegetation management and been drowning resource companies in red tape, rather than supporting sustainable economic growth.”
Senior DNRM managers will today begin a comprehensive round of meetings designed to offer assistance and information to employees to provide certainty for their future.
“I want to thank DNRM’s senior managers for their professionalism through these difficult deliberations and, likewise, I want thank staff for their patience.”
“I am confident that all Queenslanders will experience a fresh approach to service delivery from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, and employees can look forward to being part of a more focused, outcome-driven organisation.”
[ENDS] 30 August 2012
Media inquiries: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0409 891 342
Mr Cripps said the process of reviewing the services and programs delivered by DNRM into the future had been finalised, and communication with affected staff has begun.
“I have made it abundantly clear through this process that I wanted to minimise the impact of this restructure on rural and regional Queensland, where a loss of public sector positions can have a disproportionate effect,” Mr Cripps said.
“I am satisfied that, in consultation with senior Departmental managers, our savings program will protect the frontline services this Department offers to all Queenslanders, and that we have minimised job losses in the bush.
“In line with the Newman Government’s commitment to regulatory reform, we have carefully considered which positions and programs are no longer required, and have identified 413 positions that cannot be supported.
“A number of these positions are already vacant, and will not be filled, meaning 360 staff will be directly affected by the restructure.”
Mr Cripps said a significant number of these employees will leave having expressed an interest in doing so, and that the majority of positions identified are in south-east Queensland.
“I’d also like to make it very clear there will be absolutely no loss of frontline mine safety and health officers from my Department, to ensure Queenslanders working in the resources sector remain protected by one of the world’s best mine safety systems.
“Instead we have identified savings in areas of the Department that had, under Labor, become fixated on over-regulating landholders in areas such as vegetation management and been drowning resource companies in red tape, rather than supporting sustainable economic growth.”
Senior DNRM managers will today begin a comprehensive round of meetings designed to offer assistance and information to employees to provide certainty for their future.
“I want to thank DNRM’s senior managers for their professionalism through these difficult deliberations and, likewise, I want thank staff for their patience.”
“I am confident that all Queenslanders will experience a fresh approach to service delivery from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, and employees can look forward to being part of a more focused, outcome-driven organisation.”
[ENDS] 30 August 2012
Media inquiries: Jane Paterson 0417 281 754 or Paul Sutherland 0409 891 342