I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that a strong and properly resourced public service will be critical during the COVID-19 recovery period, including:

  (i) to continue to lead the national health response to prevent a second wave,

  (ii) to design and implement economic recovery measures, and

  (iii) to provide essential services to the community; and

(b) calls on the Morrison Government to:

  (i) abolish the arbitrary staffing cap, and

  (ii) guarantee that no APS jobs will be cut during this term of Parliament.

I seek leave to make a very short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

Of course the Greens support the Australian Public Service and this motion. We support removing the harmful staffing cap and, while this motion doesn't cover it, we also despair at the creeping privatisation of the Public Service through the billions of dollars in contracts that have been gifted by this government to the four big consulting firms who regularly donate to the Liberal Party. But what we most wanted to put on record is that public servants have literally saved Australian lives on multiple occasions so far in 2020, from the weather forecasting of the Bureau of Meterology to the ABC bringing the warnings of fire and COVID into our homes to our public health officials providing best advice to politicians and local communities alike. Throughout a harrowing year, the Australian people have again relied on Public Service workers for support and action. We owe public servants a great deal, and the Greens ask the government to reflect on the importance of strong public institutions as they prepare the October budget.

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave is granted for one minute.

This motion falsely asserts that there is an arbitrary staff cap for Commonwealth agencies. In fact, staff settings for individual Commonwealth agencies are neither arbitrary nor fixed. Staffing levels vary according to need. There have been few years that have seen greater staff movements than 2020 as staff have been reallocated between agencies and new and temporary staff have been hired to address pressures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Staffing levels reflect the impact of decisions by government over time and of relevant external demand pressures from time to time. The Morrison government will continue to use all appropriate government and non-government human resources to support its health and economic response to COVID-19 and to provide valued and essential services to the community.

Question agreed to.