The Abbott government has announced 16,500 public servants will lose their jobs over the next four years under a push it says will make the bureaucracy more efficient and accountable.
The public sector jobs losses are 4500 more than the coalition pledged at the 2013 federal election, when the coalition promised 12,000 cuts through natural attrition.
However, the job cuts, announced in Tuesday's budget, were only 2000 more than the 14,500 bequeathed by the previous Labor government.
The Australian Tax Office will carry the largest reduction, with 4700 jobs to go in the next four years.
The public sector union had feared losses of more than 25,000, saying 6000 announced before the budget had already stretched government services to breaking point.
