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 average quantity.

Over the period 1 July to 31 December 2011, the Defence civilian workforce increased from 21,296 full-time equivalent average APS personnel and 408 contractors, to 21,891 full-time equivalent average APS personnel and 416 contractors.