The May 2021 Budget papers show that the ranks of the federal public service will swell to 174,300 in 2021-22, with almost 5,400 new staff to be recruited during the coming financial year.
Government agencies that are taking on additional staff include the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, which will grow from 64 to 110 employees, and the Productivity Commission, which will grow from 162 to 190 staff.
Public servant numbers peaked at 182,500 under the former Labor government, and the Coalition had reduced this to 165,600 by 2015-16 under the Abbott Government. Meanwhile, the public service’s operating expenses will rise from $76 billion in 2020-21 to $78.1 billion.
