Labor’s plan to save $6.4 billion by reducing the government’s reliance on consultants over four years has been criticized as a “lazy option” by former public service commissioner Andrew Podger, who warns it could affect service levels. Despite claims from Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that these savings won’t impact government services, experts like Helen Dickinson note that achieving these savings may require building in-house capabilities to replace outsourced services. Podger suggests that any cuts should be balanced with in-house staffing to maintain service quality.
