David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 20 August 2012:

With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications – Civilian Workforce': as at 30 June 2012, what increase or reduction has there been in full-time and part-time Australian Public Service staff or contractors employed since 1 July 2008?

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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 approach, Defence counts full-time and part-time service as one overall quantity.

On 30 July 2008 Defence employed 20,439 full-time equivalent Australian Public Service (APS) personnel and approximately 704 contractors (noting that contractor reporting mechanisms were not mature in July 2008). As at 30 June 2012, Defence was employing 22,284 full-time equivalent APS personnel and 493 contractors.

This represents an increase in APS personnel of +1,845 (+9.0%), and a reduction in contractors of approximately -211 (-30.0%) since 1 July 2008.