Hundreds of public service jobs axed

AUSTRALIAN public service jobs in Hobart are at their lowest level since 2007, new data reveals.

The Federal Government has come under fire over the cuts, including 65 jobs axed across Tasmania in the 12 months to June this year.

More than 600 federal public service jobs have gone from the state since 2013, according to data released by the Australian Public Service Commission yesterday.

Across Tasmania, 3626 people are employed in public service jobs, compared to 4240 in 2013. Of those, 3076 are in Hobart, compared with 3650 in 2013.

Federal member for Clark Andrew Wilkie said the news was “dreadful” for families and the local economy.

“The size of the cuts in the last financial year in particular is especially alarming,’’ he said.

“Tasmania lost 158 Centrelink and Medicare jobs, the Department of Health workforce shrunk by 30 per cent, the Bureau of Meteorology workforce was down by 9 per cent and the Department of Veterans Affairs workforce down 23 per cent.

“Let’s remember that this is also a very human story where every job lost is someone’s income gone, with big consequences not just for them but also their family.”

Community and Public Sector Union regional secretary Zac Batchelor said federal departments had outsourced jobs.

“Stop privatising our jobs and cutting our services, and employ more Tasmanians at Centrelink and at our borders and in the tax office and in Veterans’ Affairs,” Mr Batchelor said.

Franklin Labor MP Julie Collins said: “Tasmania has a fullblown full-time jobs crisis and the Morrison Government has made a bad situation worse.”

The Federal Government was contacted for comment.