Page 1484 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
I do need to take the opportunity, in speaking to this amendment, to put on the public record, for the benefit again of the shadow treasurer, the true state of the Australian public service. It is publicly available on the Australian Public Service Commission’s website. The Australian Public Service Statistical Bulletin outlines the levels of employment, both ongoing and non-ongoing, within the Australian public service. It provides an interesting historical perspective of the attitudes of different governments to the Australian public service. As I indicated in my earlier contribution, when the Rudd government was elected in 2007 there were 155,091 Australian public servants. In 2008 that number increased to 159,299, according to the Australian Public Service Commission. In 2009 it increased to 161,277. In 2010 it increased to 163,793. In 2011 it increased to 165,478. In 2012 it increased to 167,339.
The Abbott government was elected in 2013, and from that point the numbers started to decline—in 2013 to 166,153. So the numbers peaked at 167,339 in the final year of the Gillard government and then started to decline, to 166,153 in 2013. These figures are as at 30 June in each year. In 2014, when the big cuts came, as a result of the incoming government, the number decreased to 157,956 as at 30 June 2014. As at 30 June 2015 it had shrunk further, to 152,430. Those numbers come, as I say, from the Australian Public Service Commission’s APS Statistical Bulletin. They outline the growth in the public service over the period of the Rudd and Gillard governments and the removal of all of those positions under the federal Liberal government.
In Mr Hanson’s contribution just now, although he turned the volume down—he was not shouting and he was not angry with everyone—he still felt it was appropriate to attack individuals in this place.
Mr Hanson: You sacked her. I didn’t
MR BARR: And there we go again, Madam Speaker. That sort of approach demonstrates a lot about a person’s character and demonstrates a lot about their ability to debate the substantive issues—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order!
MR BARR: or reduce this place—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Order, Mr Hanson.
MR BARR: to a university debating contest about each other. That, unfortunately, is Mr Hanson’s approach to most of the debates in this place, whether it be the interjections he constantly makes, the shouting, the abuse or just the desire to be an alpha male, it would seem, in the context of this chamber. If that is the way he wants to approach his leadership of the Liberal Party and his candidacy for the chief ministership of the territory, all I need do is to remind him now that these debates are
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video