Mr DEAN asked a question of the Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council -

With regard to Metro services in Launceston and the position of northern regional manager -

(1) Who made the decision to make the position of northern regional manager redundant?

(2) Has a similar managerial position been created in Hobart?

(3) Will the former incumbent in the position be employed in another position and/or will he be paid out by way of redundancy?

(4) What were the employment conditions attached to the position of northern regional manager?

(5) Did consultation take place with the Launceston City Council prior to the decision being made?

(6) The position of northern regional manager provided immediate access for the public and other officials in determining issues regarding bus routes and user concerns, including attendance at meetings called at short notice. What processes will now be available to accommodate this access and service?

(7) What is the likely cost to Metro of any redundancy payment applicable to the former incumbent?

(8) Is this change part of a strategy to centralise key managerial positions and offices of government business in the south of the State?

The answer read as follows:

(1) The position that was made redundant at Metro in Launceston was the role of northern operations manager and it was Metro's chief executive officer's decision to make this position redundant. Metro did not have a northern regional manager position based in Launceston.

(2) There is now one operations manager and this position is based in Hobart - the State operations manager has responsibility for the operation of bus services in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart.

(3) The former incumbent has been paid a redundancy in line with his employment conditions.

(4) The employment conditions attached to the position of northern operations manager were as set out in the Metro Tasmania Award 2002 as it relates to salaried officers, a precis of these being:

" 38-hour week;

" permanent, full-time employment;

" four weeks' annual leave;

" personal leave, bereavement leave, parental leave;

" superannuation 9 per cent plus ability to salary sacrifice;

" long service leave as per the Long Service Leave (State Employees) Act 1994;

" redundancy entitlements of four weeks, plus two weeks for each completed year of service, and pro rata for each completed month; and

" full use of a motor vehicle.

(5) No, this was an internal Metro matter.

(6) The chief executive officer, general manager operations, general manager infrastructure and engineering, general manager business development and planning and State operations manager all regularly visit the northern region and will be available to resolve access and service issues in the northern area of the State. Currently the general manager operations, general manager infrastructure and engineering, and State operations manager visit on a weekly basis. In particular, the operations function within Metro is now headed up by the State operations manager, which will bring benefits to Metro and especially northern Tasmania through improved communication and standardisation of Metro's policies and procedures.

(7) The cost to Metro of the redundancy payment for the position of northern operations manager was in accordance with the redundancy entitlements of four weeks, plus two weeks for each completed year of service and pro rata for each completed month.

(8) No, this was an internal Metro decision to streamline current operational processes, ensure a consistent approach to the application of Metro's policies, procedures and achievement of corporate objectives.