Public Service Blowout: Albanese Government Hires 28 New Bureaucrats a Day as Federal Workforce Balloons to Record 200,000
- The Albanese government has hired a staggering 28 new public servants a day since taking office, sparking concerns about waste and efficiency.
- The federal workforce has grown by 23% in just three and a half years, with 92 out of 103 federal agencies increasing their staffing numbers.
- The massive expansion has been driven by the government’s decision to abolish a staffing cap imposed by the former Coalition government, which had limited the size of the public service to about 155,000 employees.
The Albanese government’s hiring spree has left taxpayers wondering if the massive growth in Australia’s public service is delivering real value or just perpetuating waste. Since taking office, the government has hired a staggering 28 new public servants a day, driving the federal workforce to a record 200,000 employees.
The Australian Financial Review’s analysis of 103 federal agencies found that 92 increased their staffing numbers between June 2022 and December 2025, resulting in a 23% increase in the size of the Australian Public Service.
The growth is largely attributed to the government’s decision to abolish a staffing cap imposed by the former Coalition government, which had restricted the number of public servants agencies could directly employ.
Critics argued that the policy encouraged departments to rely more heavily on external consultants and contractors, who were not included in the cap. The government has defended the expansion, arguing that the size of the public service remains broadly consistent with historic levels when measured against Australia’s population.
However, the numbers tell a different story.
Since Labor’s election victory in May 2022, the federal public service has grown from 159,179 employees in June 2022 to 195,847 by December 2025, an increase of about 36,700 staff.
The biggest increases were concentrated in a handful of agencies responsible for the government’s largest and most complex programs.
The National Disability Insurance Agency recorded the biggest rise, adding 5,986 staff and more than doubling its workforce from 5,066 to 11,052 as the NDIS continued to expand.
The Department of Defence also saw significant growth, adding 3,823 employees as the government ramped up military capability and prepared for projects such as the AUKUS submarines.
The Department of Home Affairs grew by 2,753 employees, reflecting greater demands across immigration, border protection, and national security.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water also saw significant growth, adding 2,420 employees as Labor pursued its climate and energy agenda.
The massive expansion of the public service has raised concerns about waste and efficiency.
While the government argues that bringing work back into government departments has reduced reliance on consultants and contractors and rebuilt public sector capability, critics argue that the growth is unsustainable and will put a strain on taxpayers.
Analysis: What This Means for AustraliaThe growth of the public service has significant implications for Australia’s national security, law enforcement, and economic stability.
With the federal workforce growing at a rate of 28 new employees a day, it is essential to ensure that the expansion is delivering real value for taxpayers.
The government must be transparent about the costs and benefits of the growth and ensure that the additional staff are being used efficiently.
Security analysts say that the growth of the public service could have significant implications for national security, particularly in the areas of border protection and immigration.
With the Department of Home Affairs growing by 2,753 employees, it is essential to ensure that the additional staff are being used to strengthen Australia’s borders and protect national security.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the growth of the public service could also have implications for law enforcement, particularly in the areas of crime prevention and detection.
With the Department of Defence growing by 3,823 employees, it is essential to ensure that the additional staff are being used to strengthen Australia’s military capability and protect national security.
Industry observers believe that the growth of the public service could also have significant economic implications, particularly in the areas of taxation and government spending.
With the federal workforce growing at a rate of 28 new employees a day, it is essential to ensure that the expansion is sustainable and will not put a strain on taxpayers.
Ultimately, the growth of the public service must be carefully managed to ensure that it is delivering real value for taxpayers. The government must be transparent about the costs and benefits of the growth and ensure that the additional staff are being used efficiently.
The Albanese government’s hiring spree has left taxpayers wondering if the massive growth in Australia’s public service is delivering real value or just perpetuating waste. Since taking office, the government has hired a staggering 28 new public servants a day, driving the federal workforce to a record 200,000 employees. The Australian Financial Review’s analysis of 103 federal agencies found that 92 increased their staffing numbers between June 2022 and December 2025, resulting in a 23% increase in the size of the Australian Public Service.
The growth is largely attributed to the government’s decision to abolish a staffing cap imposed by the former Coalition government, which had restricted the number of public servants agencies could directly employ. Critics argued that the policy encouraged departments to rely more heavily on external consultants and contractors, who were not included in the cap. The government has defended the expansion, arguing that the size of the public service remains broadly consistent with historic levels when measured against Australia’s population.
However, the numbers tell a different story. Since Labor’s election victory in May 2022, the federal public service has grown from 159,179 employees in June 2022 to 195,847 by December 2025, an increase of about 36,700 staff. The biggest increases were concentrated in a handful of agencies responsible for the government’s largest and most complex programs. The National Disability Insurance Agency recorded the biggest rise, adding 5,986 staff and more than doubling its workforce from 5,066 to 11,052 as the NDIS continued to expand.
The Department of Defence also saw significant growth, adding 3,823 employees as the government ramped up military capability and prepared for projects such as the AUKUS submarines. The Department of Home Affairs grew by 2,753 employees, reflecting greater demands across immigration, border protection, and national security. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water also saw significant growth, adding 2,420 employees as Labor pursued its climate and energy agenda.
The massive expansion of the public service has raised concerns about waste and efficiency. While the government argues that bringing work back into government departments has reduced reliance on consultants and contractors and rebuilt public sector capability, critics argue that the growth is unsustainable and will put a strain on taxpayers.
The growth of the public service has significant implications for Australia’s national security, law enforcement, and economic stability. With the federal workforce growing at a rate of 28 new employees a day, it is essential to ensure that the expansion is delivering real value for taxpayers. The government must be transparent about the costs and benefits of the growth and ensure that the additional staff are being used efficiently.
Security analysts say that the growth of the public service could have significant implications for national security, particularly in the areas of border protection and immigration. With the Department of Home Affairs growing by 2,753 employees, it is essential to ensure that the additional staff are being used to strengthen Australia’s borders and protect national security.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the growth of the public service could also have implications for law enforcement, particularly in the areas of crime prevention and detection. With the Department of Defence growing by 3,823 employees, it is essential to ensure that the additional staff are being used to strengthen Australia’s military capability and protect national security.
Industry observers believe that the growth of the public service could also have significant economic implications, particularly in the areas of taxation and government spending. With the federal workforce growing at a rate of 28 new employees a day, it is essential to ensure that the expansion is sustainable and will not put a strain on taxpayers.
Ultimately, the growth of the public service must be carefully managed to ensure that it is delivering real value for taxpayers. The government must be transparent about the costs and benefits of the growth and ensure that the additional staff are being used efficiently.