The Albanese Labor Government will have increased the size of the Commonwealth Public Service by more than 36,000 staff by next year.
This an increase of more than 20% on the size of the Public Service when Labor came to power in 2022 and will see the average staffing level pass 200,000 for the first time in Australia’s history.
This increase will cost up to $24 billion over the next four years.
Shadow Assistant Minister for Government Waste Reduction, James Stevens, questioned the need for the increase, asking whether “Australians feel $24 billion dollars better serviced by the Federal Government.”
“It is staggering that Labor have ballooned the size of the bureaucracy, costing taxpayers billions of dollars during a cost-of-living crisis.
“We’ve consistently sought a proper explanation from the Government to understand the basis of such a dramatic increase in the public service.
“They often cite the internalisation of external labour as the basis for this growth, but the Budget papers show this only accounts for less than 6,000 of the 36,000 additional staff members.
“The government should be honest with Australians so we can understand the justification for this significant increase and the eye-watering cost to the taxpayer.”
