From the SMH:
The federal budget appears to have a gaping hole: it has failed to set aside enough funds for what is likely to be a record public sector redundancy bill.
Despite outlining the most ambitious job-shedding program in 15 years, the Abbott government has assumed most staff will leave of their own accord without seeking a payout.
The funding shortfall will easily exceed half a billion dollars over three years if the costs incurred in recent years are any guide.The budget papers show the government believes it will spend $273 million in 2013-14 on separation payments for staff – the highest sum ever spent in a year. This record redundancy bill coincides with a net loss of 2695 full-time civilian jobs and 85 military positions.
Yet while the government plans to shed more than three times as many civilian jobs in 2014-15 – 8200 full-time staff – it has only set aside $105 million for payouts.
