Number of NSW government executives grows three times faster than nurses

The number of highly paid public servants in NSW increased almost three times faster than the number of nurses.

The number of highly paid public sector fat cats in NSW has grown almost three times faster than the amount of nurses employed by the state government, breaking an election pledge to slash money spent on senior executives.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that 347 more senior executives were hired in 2021 – with the roles commanding an average salary of $256,000 per year.

That’s despite the government pledging before the election to cut the bill for bureaucratic bosses by 10 per cent each year.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian arriving at the ICAC Inquiry. Picture: Tim Hunter.

State Labor estimated the hiring spree – which expanded the public sector’s executive ranks by more than 10 per cent – will cost the budget an extra $89 million per year.

Despite the 2021 splurge on public sector fat cats, the number of nurses employed by the NSW government grew by just 3.7 per cent, increasing from 49,602 full time equivalent employees to 51,441.

The number of public service senior executives increased in every government cluster in 2021.

The biggest increase was in the Transport cluster, where 182 additional senior executives were employed in 2021, according to figures contained in a NSW Public Service Commission report tabled to parliament.

“The increase was caused by a growing portfolio of major transport infrastructure projects in NSW requiring specialised executive support,” the “State of the NSW Public Sector” report said.

The number of senior executives in Premier Dominic Perrottet’s own department grew by 28 to 315.

The Planning, Industry and Environment cluster hired 57 extra senior executives last year.

The Health cluster was the only departmental group where government agencies lost senior executives – with a reduction of two roles. Overall, the department added 21 roles to its ranks of senior executives in 2021.

Top public servants in the senior executive ranks earn between $250,000 and $600,000 per year.

Labor Treasury spokesman Daniel Mookhey accused the government of splurging on top public servants at the expense of hiring crucial frontline workers.

“Instead of axing top bureaucrats like they promised, the Government has binged on hiring more top public servants on six figure salaries,” he said.

Before the 2019 election, the Coalition promised to cut public service senior executive spending by 10 per cent each year, excluding certain departments like health, police, teaching, and transport.

The policy would have saved $158.8 million over four years, based on “natural attrition” of 203 senior executives over two years. But the government has failed to deliver its own promise two years running. Rather than cutting costs, the number of senior executives increased in 2020, and again in 2021.

“The top brass of the public service are doing just fine. Hiring more of them is an example of a jobs program NSW can do without,” Mr Mookhey said.

“We’d be better off spending the money hiring more of the health care workers, teachers and police NSW needs so desperately,” he said.

NSW Health spokesman said there are more nurses and midwives in public hospitals now than “at any other time in history”.

He said the nursing and midwifery workforce has grown by 23 per cent since 2012.

“The NSW Government is also investing in a further 5,000 nurses and midwives over four years under a record $2.8 billion boost to frontline staff.”