Budget Analysis For CPSU Members

The federal budget is good news for public services and the Australian public, delivering an additional 17,289 APS jobs.

The budget also shows the government is taking action on outsourcing arrangements by converting almost 9,000 employees, who are already doing public sector work, into secure, transparent and accountable public service roles.

Our team has been unpacking the budget in detail and what it means for staffing and services across the APS.

You can view a full APS agency breakdown of staff numbers here.

Below is a summary of other key outcomes for CPSU members working in the APS.

• $2.8b for Services Australia, including:
  • $1.8b for additional frontline staff to stabilise claims backlogs and service standards, continue emergency response capability and improve cyber security.
  • $314.1m for safety and security enhancement in line with Ashton Report
• $123.8m for Home Affairs including:
  • $100m in 2024-25 funding supplementation to support core functions including ABF operations, immigration compliance activities and sustainment of critical systems.
  • $71.2m to increase the ABF’s on-water response and aerial surveillance capabilities.
• $468.7m to improve outcomes for NDIS participants, including funding for NDIA staffing and upgrading NDISQSC IT systems
• $1.7b for the ATO for a range of new measures and staffing
• $290.5m for the Australian Antarctic Division including:
  • Critical safety works and rebuild the Macquarie Island research station
  • Supporting operations of the RSV Nuyina and increasing operational days at sea to support marine science and environment activities
• $121m for Australia’s first National Environment Protection Authority
• $51.5m for a new body Environment Information Australia to give access to latest environmental data, release State of the Environment Reports and report on progress on environmental goals
• $194.4m for DVA (for four years, and $20.6m ongoing) to provide additional resourcing including claims processing, and for digital capability
• $1b to establish and support the new Administrative Review Tribunal and address backlogs
• $1.2b for critical aged care digital systems
• $110.9m for the ACQSC to increase regulatory capability
• $37m for the My Aged Care Contact Centre to reduce wait times
• $6.5m for the APS Capability Reinvestment Fund, including for projects to:
  • Improve cultural competency and enhance integrity for APS staff
  • Uplift capability across the APS including in AI integration and data quality to inform policy analysis
• $4.8m for PM&C to update the APS Employment database to provide improved insights into the APS workforce
• $39.9m for safe and responsible AI including establishment of a reshaped National AI Centre and an AI advisory body within DISR
• $6.7m for the Digital Transformation Agency
• $66.3m for the National Security Agencies
• $117.2m to support AFTRS and the national performing arts training organisations
• $9.3m for the National Film and Sound Archive to safely store cultural heritage material
• $8m for the Australian War Memorial to ensure the continuation of our current services and fund existing resources
• $2.1m for to Finance for the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy
• $399.1m for the Net Zero Economy in additional resourcing for the Net Zero Economy Authority, DEWR and the FWC
• $5m for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority for reef monitoring and protection
• $10m over 4 years from 2024-25 (and $0.8m per year ongoing) to establish the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission, implement the Set the Standard report and make Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces safer and more respectful
• $13.2m to improve employment services and support future reform.

These wins are thanks to the campaigning and lobbying of CPSU members around the country.