This paper examines the make-up of the Australian Public Service (APS) and considers recent efforts to improve APS service delivery. It concludes that recent investment in the employment of more APS employees has improved service delivery and that any reduction will reduce service delivery or result in the engagement of more consultants and contractors. It examines several misconceptions promoted in the political debate around the size of Australia’s public service. 

Key findings

• Public investment in the form of additional ongoing public service employees is warranted.
• Most of the public service jobs created since 2022 were not based in Canberra.
• Long running underinvestment in APS employees was identified in 2019 as a barrier to capacity of the APS to deliver on what Australians would need from the APS in the future.
• The use of consultants and contractors in lieu of public service employees under previous policies negatively impacted on service delivery and the capacity of the public service.
• An overview of the performance of two key agencies – Services Australia and the Department of Veterans Affairs – where additional public service employees have been engaged – shows that an increase in APS employees has improved service delivery outcomes.
• APS employee numbers have increased under the current Federal Government and reliance on consultants, contractors and labour hire workers reduced.