Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Hansard source

We haven't. Indeed, we took $5.3 billion in savings from departments in relation to external labour and non-wage expenses in our first term. We took a policy to the last election of $6.4 billion in savings. We have seen a dramatic decrease in the use of the big four consultants compared to what we saw under the former government. And we have rebuilt the Public Service. We've rebuilt it with permanent public servants doing ongoing Public Service work. We have done a range of other things to make it clear to departments about when we think using consultants, outsourcing or using external labour is appropriate. I totally reject any view that we haven't invested in the Public Service. We have, we will continue to do so and we will deliver the $6.4 billion in savings we took to the last campaign over the use of consultants. (Time expired)