Purge of consultants heralds public service jobs boom

Original article by David Ross
The Australian – Page: 11 : 15-May-24

The number of federal public servants has increased from 173,142 to more than 197,000 since Labor took office in May 2022. The budget papers show that the number of public servants is forecast to rise by 12,042 over the next year, while this is on track to be 36,000 higher than in 2021-22. The growth in public service numbers is at least partly due to the government’s push to reduce the cost of using external consultants, with thousands of these roles to be converted into in-house positions.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Consultancy spend alarms union, MPs

Original article by Edmund Tadros, Tom McIlroy
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 22-Jan-18

MPs are concerned about the level of money that federal government departments are spending on consultants and contractors. Almost 5,000 consultants are employed across government agencies, and the Community & Public Sector Union estimates that $A380 million could be saved each year by replacing them with permanent public servants. Accenture and the four major accounting firms are estimated to have made more than $A3 billion over a five-year period from federal government contracts.

CORPORATES
COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC SECTOR UNION, ACCENTURE AUSTRALIA LIMITED, KPMG AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AUSTRALIA (INTERNATIONAL) PTY LTD, ERNST AND YOUNG, DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE, AUSTRALIA. JOINT COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND AUDIT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HUMAN SERVICES, AUSTRALIA. ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPT, AUSTRALIA. NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE AGENCY, VICTORIA. DEPT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOBS, TRANSPORT AND RESOURCES

PM queried Robb’s China role

Original article by Primrose Riordan
The Australian – Page: 5 : 16-Jun-17

Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb is said to have taken on a consulting role with Chinese firm Landbridge on 1 July 2016, the day before the federal election. With a recent television program having raised concerns over Chinese influence in Australia, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce claimed that "questions" need to be asked about the timing of Robb’s appointment. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says Robb had assured Martin Parkinson, the head of Turnbull’s department, that he had not breached any ministerial standards in taking on the role with Landbridge.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, LANDBRIDGE GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRADE, AUSTRALIA CHINA BUSINESS COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION, FAIRFAX MEDIA LIMITED – ASX FXJ