CITEC faces 80 job losses

Queensland ICT shared services provider latest on the block.

The Queensland Government will cut 80 business support positions within ICT shared service provider CITEC in a bid to halt operating losses posted by the unit.

A spokesman for State IT Minister Ros Bates' office told iTnews that the cuts would be achieved "through a combination of strategies, including non-extension of temporary employees, termination of contractors, natural attrition and voluntary redundancies".

"The focus in this staff adjustment will be on corporate and business support staff rather than operational staff, so as to continue to deliver a first class service to customers," the spokesman said.

"We are aiming to complete this process over the balance of this calendar year to minimise the uncertainty for staff".

CITEC falls under the auspices of Queensland's Department of Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts.

According to budget papers released this week, the department is expecting to make 110 full-time equivalent redundancies in 2012-13 (pdf).

Minister Bates' spokesman said that the CITEC reductions would be "in addition" to the general departmental cuts.

The CITEC cutbacks are expected to be one measure that helps return the shared services provider to profitability.

The termination of the Identity, Directory and Email Service (IDES) project is also expected to help "return CITEC to a financially viable position", budget papers stated (pdf).

The CITEC staff cuts are the latest blow to the state's ICT workforce. Last week, Queensland Health said it would cut 140 IT jobs.

In addition, the Queensland Government cut 384 IT contractors between May and June of this year to save costs.