The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

The workforce data detailed in the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications' are based on approved allocations at the time of publication and reflect full-time equivalent average numbers. Using the full-time equivalent (FTE) approach, Defence counts full-time and part-time service as one overall quantity.

As at 31 December 2010 Defence was employing 21,029 full-time equivalent average civilian personnel, of which 653 were contractors. This is a reduction of -163 full-time equivalent average (-0.8%) since 1 Jul 2008.