The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has tonight welcomed the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to rebuilding the Australian Public Service (APS) with the announcement of over 7,500 additional public sector jobs, representing a 4.4% increase in APS jobs.
For the past decade of Coalition budgets, we have seen rampant job cuts and outsourcing of the public service that’s left the Australian community without the services they need and led to backlogs in veterans’ claims, blow outs in wait times for frontline services, and depleted policy capacity.
Tonight, instead of continuing the Coalition’s reliance on consultants that were costing the taxpayer $2m per day, the Albanese Government started the important work of rebuilding the public service.
Rebalancing the APS workforce from a reliance on labour hire arrangements and outsourcing, to secure ongoing APS employment will dramatically improve services and policy capacity and save taxpayer dollars.
As the Australian public service is rebuilt, the services that so many Australians rely on will be able to function more effectively:
- There will be an additional 653 jobs in the Department of Veterans Affairs will help address delays and long wait times for veterans.
- 296 more jobs in the National Disability Insurance Agency and 225 jobs in the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will see people with disability and their families get the support they need.
- 921 jobs in the Department of Home Affairs will be critical in addressing visa backlogs dealt with and families reunited after years of waiting in limbo for their applications to be processed.
- 1,248 jobs in the Australian Taxation Office will ensure the agency can better address the growing issue of multi-national tax avoidance.
- 407 new jobs in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission which will regulate aged care services.
- $275.7 million investment in the Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water to develop our capacity to respond to a changing climate.
There is much more to be done to restore and rebuild the public sector to what it once was and beyond, but that work has now begun.
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly
The CPSU and APS workers welcome the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to rebuilding the Australian Public Service (APS) with the announcement of over 7,500 additional public sector jobs.
For too long, we have seen governments throw millions of taxpayer dollars at consultant and contractor spending while cutting APS jobs and hollowing out the skills and experience of our public sector, but from tonight that is being wound back.
The previous government’s trick of cutting APS jobs, while handing over millions to consultants and labour hire firms is finally being addressed.
Rebuilding the APS is a big job that will take time, but that work starts tonight.
The investment in the APS that has been announced is positive news for those who work in the public service, for the delivery of public services, and for the economy.
This outcome is the result of the work done by CPSU members who fought hard against the former government’s budget cuts, understaffing and use of expensive private contractors – all while facing pay freezes, real wage cuts and attacks on their working conditions.
The Government has delivered a budget that takes meaningful steps in rebuilding the APS and we’ll be ensuring this is delivered in a way that works for the public sector and the Australian community who rely on public services every day.
