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Where could Peter Dutton’s DOGE-style cuts come from?

Labor says Dutton’s public service cuts are from the ‘DOGE’ handbook. Here’s where jobs could go

Just 7000 new public service jobs have been created in Canberra under Labor, forcing the Coalition to cut 34,000 jobs from the rest of Australia or gut the capital.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos and Olivia Ireland

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The key issues that will define the election – and where the major parties stand

Tax is a latecomer to the campaign agenda, Medicare has taken centre stage, and a nuclear energy fight will keep climate change in the conversation.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton up his promise of public service cuts to 40,000 workers on Wednesday.

Coalition takes aim at public servants as Dutton looks to cut 40,000 jobs

Tuesday night’s budget shows the government has added 41,411 public servants since 2022, fuelling a political fight over the public service and government spending.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos and Olivia Ireland
Lauren Bernays with husband Jeffrey - a flexible worker. Photo by Jason South. 11th March 2025.

‘They’re not treating us like adults’: Women call for work flexibility

Peter Dutton says federal public servants will need to return to the office full-time if the Coalition wins. Experts warn it will lead to an exodus of skilled women.

  • Gemma Grant
The Coalition has made clear it will reduce the size of the federal public service.

Dutton’s plan to cull public servants isn’t just risky – it’s misguided

While it’s true Labor has hired 36,000 public servants since 2022, most of them aren’t located where the Coalition leader believes them to be.

  • Shane Wright

Job cut theatre hides the true cost of removing ‘waste’

Readers respond to public service cuts in the US and threats of cuts in Australia. Paul Keating reacts to Peter Hartcher’s latest column.

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Cutting waste from the public service is the only one of Donald Trump’s policies that a majority of respondents would like to see in Australia.

The Trump policies Australians hate – and the ones they want here

An exclusive survey shows there is one Trump policy most Australians want, and “drill, baby, drill” is also quite popular.

  • David Crowe
Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Jaclyn Symes (left) announce an independent review.

Jac the Knife: New treasurer signals major budget surgery

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes spent her summer studying the state’s books. She is deeply troubled by what she found.

  • Chip Le Grand
Treasurer Jaclyn Symes and Premier Jacinta Allan announce the review on Thursday.

Facing the chop: State public service review to target highest-paid bureaucrats

Between 2000 and 3000 people are expected to lose their jobs, saving the state government billions of dollars, Treasurer Jaclyn Symes says.

  • Rachel Eddie, Hannah Hammoud and Chip Le Grand
Northern Territory Country Liberal senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

Departments reveal how many diversity and inclusion roles exist

The Coalition’s vow to slash diversity and inclusion roles in the public service will only deliver it a sliver of savings in its quest to cut thousands of jobs.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos and Olivia Ireland

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/public-service-60z