The government was asked a number of questions about whether front line staff would be sacked in the education and health departments, after the government yesterday announced that 490 staff from the two agencies were to be cut by the end of June.

Mr Hodgman was asked if his party had explained before the election that the jobs would be cut.

The premier responded that his government had always been upfront about the need to get the budget back on track.

Mr Hodgman and his ministers said the government could not guarantee that front line staff would not be cut.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein used question time to reveal that former Aurora CEO Peter Davis was given a $2 million payout when he left the organisation.

Mr Gutwein said the government was now tightening the transparency requirements for government business enterprises.