Public Service Watch: Attorney-General and Justice portfolio

Details about confirmed and rumoured cuts from within Attorney-General and Justice Minister Jarrod Bleijie's portfolio.

Rumoured cuts

State Reporting Bureau and other savings:
Date: July 26
Information: Claims that the government is looking at outsourcing court transcription services. This could affect more than 200 State Reporting Bureau staff.
Source: Two separate confidential government sources.
Put to minister: July 26, 6.30pm.
Response: On the afternoon of July 27, Mr Bleijie's office did not take the opportunity to dispute the claims. The statement did not directly answer the questions – not even responding to a factual question asking how many employees were currently in the State Reporting Bureau. “All ministers have been directed to find savings and cut waste within their department as we work to rein in Labor’s debt. Announcements on any government programs impacted will be made when appropriate. We will not be responding to rumours from unnamed sources.”
Update: On August 15, documents emerged suggesting the government had drafted a media release confirming the SRB outsourcing plans on the same day Mr Bleijie told brisbanetimes.com.au he would not respond to the "rumours from unnamed sources". Mr Bleijie's office on August 15 continued to refuse to rule out the outsourcing move, which the draft release suggested could save up to $6 million a year. There are also doubts over the future of the dedicated Queensland Drug Court and the Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program.

Cuts already confirmed by government

Sentencing, workplace rights bodies:
The Sentencing Advisory Council and the Queensland Workplace Rights Office would both be wound up, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie confirmed on May 18. Mr Bleijie argued the Sentencing Advisory Council was duplicating the role of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. It was supported by 12 full-time employees, who would be offered a voluntary redundancy or another government role. Queensland Workplace Rights Office, which had six full-time employees and provided information to workers and employers about workplace rights and obligations, was also axed.

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Cuts in other portfolios

• Premier's portfolio
• State Development, Infrastructure and Planning portfolio
• Treasury and Trade portfolio
• Health portfolio
• Education, Training and Employment portfolio
• Police and Community Safety portfolio
• Attorney-General and Justice portfolio
• Transport and Main Roads portfolio
• Housing and Public Works
• Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio
• Environment and Heritage Protection portfolio
• Natural Resources and Mines portfolio
• Energy and Water Supply portfolio
• Local Government portfolio
• Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services portfolio
• Science, IT, Innovation and Arts portfolio
• National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing portfolio
• Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games portfolio
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs portfolio