Date:
Time:
26.11.86
8.30 am 12.15 pm
"
Reporter:
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effect on staff morale. Of course, if we give them the means of doing the job, then, of course, they will do the job cheerfully; but here we are looking for a free lunch, we're expecting someone to do the job without putting any more resources in.
CHAIRMAN: Well, Mr Director, the whole thing, I understand you talk about staff morale, but I think you get the sentiment of the Committee. We're talking about a simple procedure of saving a million dollars somehow. Now, we're paying out in cash to the security companies appointed by airlines, whatever that is, and it
is something that in our view easily can be done and it is a matter of attitude, it is a matter of co-ordination with the staff that says this is something that the Government can save the tax-payers a million dollars. And it's not that complicated, the whole procedure is not that complicated and in my view it's not a matter of a second
or not, it doesn't take much time. I mean, if they went through and
serached the passport it would take more than that, than tearing off a simple stub. I think the Committee generally agree, we discussed 19 this point with the Director of Audit, there is a million dollars to
be saved, it's just how your department can co-operate. I understand that an immigration officer would probably feel that it is not an immigration matter, but it is a Government matter for the tax-payer, so I think, overall speaking, we will strongly recommend you look
24 into that.
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DI: We shall certainly look into it and if there is a
way of really saving a million dollars, we're all for it, but I would submit that there is a danger, unless we are careful of what
we do, that we appear to be saving a million dollars and believe we 30 are performing this work at no cost to the tax-payer, but in actual 31 fact there will be a hidden cost which will surface later. After
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32 all, it stands to reason this million dollars we're paying is not just
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a figure dredged up by the security company; it's actually based on the salaries of the staff who are actually doing the job.
Now, the
salary of our staff and all the costs involved with our staff are
36 much higher than the cost of the staff of the security firm.
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