If Peter Dutton follows through on his commitment to cut 41,000 public service positions, Australians could experience longer wait times for social service payments, potentially lasting for weeks or even months. The new analysis by the Albanese government highlights the potential impact of these cuts on service delivery agencies like Services Australia and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Labor warns that if these jobs are eliminated, applicants may face extended wait times for services such as age pensions, paid parental leave, Medicare claims, carer payments, and family tax benefits. In contrast, data from the past year shows that the addition of 3,500 frontline roles in Services Australia has led to significant reductions in wait times for social service payments and support for job seekers and veterans. Labor accuses the Liberals and Nationals of seeking to cut services and increase bureaucratic inefficiencies, echoing criticisms of the previous Coalition government’s management of public services, including the controversial robodebt scheme. The Labor government has also increased the average staffing level for the public service, with a focus on the National Disability Insurance Agency, the tax office, and the defense department, indicating its commitment to maintaining and expanding essential services.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/27/coalition-cuts-to-public-service-jobs-could-push-out-social-service-payment-wait-times-by-months-labor-says