Crackdown on public service 'waste' announced

25 Sep 2012, 11:08 am   -   Source: AAP
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Finance Minister Penny Wong says the government will crack down on waste in the public service. (AAP)

Finance Minister Penny Wong says the government will crack down on waste in the public service. (AAP)

The federal government is cracking down on waste in the public service, but will not target jobs, Finance Minister Penny Wong says.

The federal government has announced a crackdown on public service travel, recruitment advertising and printing in a bid to save the budget $550 million.

But Finance Minister Penny Wong insists the government will not target public sector jobs as it pursues a strategy of returning the budget to surplus.

"Our approach is one that targets non-staffing efficiencies," Senator Wong told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday.

"We don't slash jobs; we don't focus on slashing jobs in the way the coalition does."

The government is looking for savings across 2012/13 and the forward estimates by limiting business class travel, cutting back on the use of consultants, moving recruitment advertising online and publishing more on the net.

Senator Wong said the government wanted departments to prioritise non-staffing expenditure, such as travel, printing, information and communications technology, and "all those other things" already considered, to find efficiencies."

Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned that substantially lower commodity prices will significantly hit budget revenues, which meant the government would have to find more savings.

The government is forecasting a $1.5 billion surplus in 2012/13, which would be the first surplus since 2007/08.

"Coming back to surplus is good for the economy," Senator Wong said.

"Coming back to surplus is the right thing to do to ensure our economy stays strong and to protect jobs and continue to support jobs going forward."

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Your Comments

Laughable antics of Labor

John - from Sydney, 8 months ago

If Labor want to cut the waste of taxpayers money they should first sack Penny Wong and the entire useless bunch of fools in the federal Labor and Greens government. How hypocritical that they employ all their "mates" on supercrat salaries whilst claiming they will find savings in wasted expnditure. Start with the incompetent bunch of idiots running the country, get rid of the free-loading Governor General and then pay politicians what they are really worth. Nothing!!!

disgruntled public servant

Joselyn - from Penshurst, 8 months ago

Better start with Government WASTE first Penny.

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