A plan has been put forth to restore public service jobs to 2012 levels. 

The Greens have published a plan to “revitalise” the public service, saying its valuable work has been undermined for over a decade. 

The party has outlined seven actions to lift public sector capability. 

The plan includes a public sector wage boost of 4 per cent per annum over the next four years, and a spending limit for outsourcing labour-hire to consultancy firms of no more than 7.5 per cent of an agency’s budget.

Greens deputy leader and public sector spokesperson, Senator Larissa Waters, says the APS has been hollowed out by successive Liberal and Labor governments, with significant job cuts and a rise in the privatisation of essential services. 

She says that “palming off” vital public services to consultancy firms has served only the consultants, who happen to be major political donors.

“Since 2012 successive governments have slashed a total of 17,000 full-time jobs from the public service, while at the same time funnelling billions into the bank accounts of consultancy firms like KPMG and Deloitte, including $850 million in 2020 alone,” Senator Waters says.

“Between them the Big Four have donated more than $5.4 million to the major parties since 2012, including nearly $700,000 in 2020-21.

“Contrary to the neoliberal propaganda, privatising essential services does not save money nor produce better outcomes. It makes services less efficient and puts decision-making in the hands of for-profit multinationals.” 

She pointed out that former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard launched “a massive cull of public servants”, setting a precedent that subsequent Liberal governments took and accelerated.

“To guarantee that the education, housing, health, social security, environmental protection and infrastructure needs of our country are being met we need a well-staffed and highly skilled public service that is able to provide effective and impartial policy advice to government, and carry out its responsibilities free from political interference,” Senator Waters said.