The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) has today welcomed the Albanese Labor Government’s new limits on the use of contractors and consultants within the Australian Public Service (APS).
The Strategic Commissioning Framework will provide a transparent and accountable way for government to continue moving away from outsourcing and toward insourcing.
Under the former Coalition Government, public sector work was increasingly outsourced, and this came at a great cost to the taxpayer and the capacity of the APS.
The CPSU calls on the Albanese Labor Government to reinvest savings back into growing the capacity and capability of the APS.
Quotes attributable to Melissa Donnelly, CPSU ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Secretary:
“The CPSU has consistently fought for public sector work to be put back into the hands of public sector workers
“Needless and damaging outsourcing to companies such as PwC, KPMG and Deloitte blew out under the former Coalition Government and came at a great cost to the budget and APS capacity
“No time or money was saved, and public service delivery suffered as a result.
“We are pleased to see that the government is continuing to reduce the over-reliance on consultants and contractors but urge them not to do this in isolation.
“Any reductions in external staff must be matched with increases in secure APS jobs and done in consultation with employees.
“Cutting consultants should not just be about saving money, but about building public sector capacity and ensuring the APS has the resources and employees to get the job done for the Australian community.
“The government must reinvest all savings back into increasing public service capacity and capability.
“The CPSU looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that this framework is implemented in a way that is good for public service workers and good for public service delivery.
