2704. Hon Alison Xamon to the minister representing the Minister for Corrective Services:
I refer to the Department of Justice Annual Report, financial summary on page 10, and the $4,690,000 decrease in Youth Justice Services actual expenditure when compared with the original budget allocation for 2018–19, and I ask:
(a) will the Minister please advise the reasons for the decrease in expenditure;
(b) were any programs cut;
(c) if yes to (b), which programs;
(d) were any staff positions cut; and
(e) if yes to (d), which ones?
Hon Stephen Dawson replied:
(a) The decrease in expenditure is primarily due to lower depreciation costs within the Youth Justice Centres ($4 million lower in 2018–19) and a reduction in Overhead Costs allocated to Youth Justice Services ($0.690 million lower in 2018–19). Additionally, as part of the merger to the new Department of Justice, staffing levels in the Corporate Services area (HR, Finance, Infrastructure and IT) was reduced by approximately 15%. This resulted in a reduction in overhead allocations for all of the services.
(b) No.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) No.
(e) Not applicable.