Proposed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines – Exhibited Animals Consultation Regulation Impact Statement March 2014
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A2.8 Estimated cost of proficient keepersIn order to estimate the costs of ensuring that there is a proficient keeper at animal exhibit facilities according to the needs of general and specific taxon standards, this section of Appendix 2 helps to establish the one-off cost of training for proficiency. For the purpose of this RIS, a proficient keeper is defined as: a person who is at least 18 years old employed or engaged under the direction of the operator or the operator’s appointed agent who has a responsibility towards an animal or group of animals and who has, with respect to an animal, demonstrated skills and knowledge in:
For those already working as an animal keeper in a zoo, theme park, aquarium, or wildlife park, a Certificate III TAFE qualification certifies skills and knowledge regarding how to effectively work within a captive animal institution, how to present information to the public and how to comply with relevant legislation.116 The course is designed to instruct keepers in the areas of capture, handling, care (including preparing animal diets, monitor feeding and identifying animal behavioural needs), and display of animals for educational and conservation purposes.117 The course requirements of Certificate III provide information on the following typical example of core and elective units:
Source:< http://www.bhtafe.edu.au/courses/local/Pages/CAZ32_OC.aspx> The fee for service cost (i.e. economic resource cost) of $6,698 for training proficient keepers at the Certificate III level is given as an average of the following two costs provided by Taronga Zoo118 (i.e. $5,980) and Box Hill TAFE119 (i.e. $7,416) and is on the job and self-paced. A2.9 Estimated time cost of keepers and operators for record keepingIn order to estimate the cost of record keeping for general standards in Appendix 2 and specific taxon standards in Appendix 3 – the hourly charge out rate is estimated for keepers and operators. The mean average weekly wage for fulltime persons who are skilled animal workers in 2011 is given as $900120. This is then annualised and converted to May 2012 values using a 3.09% growth in average wages between 2010 and 2011121 giving $48,246.12. The hourly charge out rate is then calculated by dividing annual earnings by the product of the number of weeks worked and hours per week and then multiplying this by the overhead cost and on-cost multipliers: Hourly charge out rate = annual earnings/(working weeks x hours per week) x on-cost multiplier x overhead cost multiplier The on-cost multiplier (1.165)122 represents salary on-costs of superannuation, payroll tax, Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and workers compensation by state and territory. Leave loading is already incorporated in annual earnings. The on-cost multiplier reflects the ratio of salary on-costs to total earnings as noted in 2002-03123. Other salary related on-costs are considered via the number of weeks worked per annum (44 weeks), which takes account of an average of two weeks of sick leave and public holidays plus four weeks of annual leave.124 The 38hour working week is based on the guarantee of maximum ordinary hours in the Australian Government Workplace Relations Act. The overhead cost multiplier (1.5) incorporates non-salary related costs such as a vehicle and computer. This multiplier is based on a guidance note from the Victorian Competition and Efficiency commission, which states: The Australian Vice–Chancellor’s Committee guidance to universities on bidding for research funding suggests multipliers of 1.52 for on-costs and 1.4 for non-laboratory infrastructure costs (excluding other direct, non-salary costs). This suggests that an overhead multiplier of at least 1.5 may be appropriate.125 Therefore, the hourly charge out rate for keepers (i.e. skilled animal workers) is given as$50.42: $48,246.12/(44 x 38) x1.165 x 1.5 =$50.42 In terms of operators the hourly charge out rate is based on the mean average weekly wage for fulltime persons who are office managers or program administrators in 2011 which is $1,812126. This is then annualised and converted to May 2012 values using a 3.09% growth in average wages between 2010 and 2011127 giving $97,135.52. Therefore, the hourly charge out rate for operators (i.e. program administrators) is given as $101.52: $97,135.52/(44 x 38) x1.165 x 1.5 =$101.52 Appendix 3 – Estimation of quantifiable incremental costs of the proposed general standards and discussion of unquantifiable costs The purpose of Appendix 3 is to estimate the quantifiable incremental costs of the proposed animal welfare general standards and to discuss unquantifiable costs and their estimation difficulties. All cost estimates are based on the estimated population of facilities, keepers and enclosures as discussed in Appendix 2. Furthermore, all costs are presented for ten years and discounted at a rate of 7% according to OBPR requirements. It is assumed that the proposed standards will commence operation from 2013/14. Sensitivity tests are included with each of the incremental costs presented with the use of alternative discount rates of 3% and 10%. |