Coalition plans to cut 40,000 public servant jobs

The government plans to cut 40,000 public service jobs, focusing on workers in federal health, education, and veterans' departments. This move comes as part of a political debate over public spending. Recent budget reports show the Albanese government has hired over 41,000 public servants since 2022. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton confirmed the plan to reduce jobs in Canberra. He argues that the growing number of bureaucrats does not help families or provide necessary services. Currently, about 37% of federal public servants work in Canberra, which totals nearly 80,000 employees. Dutton has not specified which departments will be affected by the cuts, but his party has targeted health and education as areas of excessive growth. Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor expressed concerns about the rising size of the health department despite declining bulk-billing rates in medical services. The Coalition has promised not to cut frontline positions and claims any job losses will not impact essential services like veterans' affairs. However, Dutton faced criticism for not providing clear details about the cuts and how they would be implemented. The government responded, stating many new public servants were previously contractors and addressing past staffing shortages. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher defended the hiring of additional staff, saying many were necessary to resolve unprocessed claims and improve services. The government is facing scrutiny for its budget projections, particularly regarding public servant wage increases that have not been adequately accounted for.