As part of ongoing fiscal discipline measures, the Territory Labor Government is implementing a staffing cap including on executive positions – for the public service.
The cap will be set at the 2018 average staffing level (21,118) which will see a cabinet approved reduction of around 300 positions across the public sector.
Agencies over their new staffing cap have 12-months to comply and will be monitored monthly.
Government election commitments and front-line delivery (such as police, teachers and nurses) will not be impacted.
Any special case requests for staffing will need to be approved by Cabinet.
The plan to stop growth in public sector numbers was part of previously announced $800 million public sector savings. The cap at the 2018 average staffing level provides a specific number to achieve.
The cap is separate from the budget repair work already underway which includes the Root and Branch review of department spending and John Langoulant report into returning the NT budget to a long-term sustainable position.
The results of that review and report will be announced ahead of the 2019 budget.
As noted by Treasurer Nicole Manison.
The $867 million deficit left by the CLP and the Federal Governments $500 million annual GST reduction means tough decisions are needed to fix the Territory budget.
Agencies must live within their means and setting a specific cap will ensure they do and help tackle expenditure growth.
Fixing the budget allows us to keep investing in job-creating projects, tackling crime and generational change.
We will not take the CLP approach of slashing and burning, selling assets and massively hiking power and water costs.
