A Wilson Liberal and Nationals Government will save taxpayers $22 billion across the next decade by implementing a hiring freeze for back-office public sector roles.
The Victorian Public Service (VPS) comprises of employees in back-office roles at government departments and agencies and excludes essential jobs such as teachers, nurses and police.
Under Labor, net debt has increased tenfold, and Victoria will spend more on interest repayments on this record debt next year than on Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria and all kindergarten services combined.
Under Labor, growth in the VPS has far exceeded population growth. The number of VPS executives has nearly tripled, the number of VPS employees has increase by 60 per cent and Victoria's total employee expenses are greater than Victoria's total taxation revenue.
Meanwhile, outcomes for Victorians continue to deteriorate. Criminal offending is at an all-time high, it takes longer to get an ambulance today than it did 10 years ago, construction of new homes is at a decade low, roads are littered with potholes and at least $15 billion has been lost to corruption on major projects.
This situation is unsustainable and a Wilson Liberal and Nationals Government will make the disciplined and responsible, but necessary decision to rectify it.
A future Jess Wilson-led Liberal and Nationals Government will:
- Implement a hiring freeze for back-office public sector roles across 46 Victorian Government departments and agencies (list attached).
- Prioritise funding for the essential health, housing and community safety services Victorians rely on through an Essential Services Guarantee.
- Introduce a VPS executive salary cap to bring remuneration in line with community expectations.
- Boost essential services and community safety by recruiting 3,000 additional police officers and 200 more PSOs.
These savings will be achieved through natural attrition, not job cuts, giving existing staff job security under a Liberal and Nationals Government.
The hiring freeze will be maintained until VPS staffing levels return to the population-adjusted equivalent of 2014-15 levels and will save taxpayers $22 billion between 2026-27 and 2036-37.
Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer, Jess Wilson, said: "Rightsizing back-office public service roles is a difficult, but necessary measure I am willing to take to guarantee essential services and repair Victoria's finances.
"Victorians are paying more than ever for these back-office roles, but outcomes and services continue to deteriorate. It is time for a new approach that puts the essentials first.
"Under our Essential Services Guarantee, there will be no reduction to police, nurse, teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and other essential services Victorians rely upon.
"Victorians deserve a government honest about the challenges we face. My Liberal and Nationals team did not create the financial mess Victoria is in, but we have a clear, measured and responsible plan to fix it."
Shadow Minister for Finance, Bridget Vallence, said: "Both the Auditor-General and the Silver Review identified that addressing the size of the bureaucracy would ensure long-term sustainability of the Victorian economy.
"This is a fiscally responsible measure that will repair the budget and protect essential frontline services that Victorians need and deserve."
