Tasmania Slashes Public Sector Job Cuts by 800 Ahead of May Budget

Tasmania’s planned cull of public sector jobs has been wound back by 800 positions, with the state government now aiming to shed 1,800 roles instead of the 2,600 flagged late last year.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff confirmed the revised target on Wednesday, saying the change reflected updated population growth figures rather than a softening of the broader workforce strategy. The state government has long argued the public service needs to be “right-sized” by 6.6% by 2032 to match the state’s population.

Rockliff said the goal remained 5,315 public servants for every 100,000 Tasmanians. “That target is going to 2032 and so, in a very measured and purposeful way, we will achieve that target,” he said.

Asked how the figure had dropped by 1,000 positions when population numbers had barely shifted, Rockliff said only that the data had changed and the new target reflected it. He confirmed the revision was made in recent weeks but had not been publicly announced before journalists raised it on Wednesday.

The recalculation lands just a fortnight out from the May 21 state budget, which Treasurer Eric Abetz is using to try to claw back a string of large deficits and rein in mounting state debt. Rockliff said the budget would be a difficult one, pointing to global economic uncertainty and Tuesday’s Reserve Bank rate rise.

“We need to live within our means, sustainable budgets moving forward and ensuring we’re investing in the right areas for the Tasmanian people,” he said.

The government has ruled out new taxes and asset sales, leaving fewer options to repair the bottom line now that the workforce reduction has been scaled back. Rockliff pointed to the federal government’s plan to cut 28,000 public service jobs as evidence the approach was not unique to Tasmania.

“The federal government recognised the need for right size, right structure,” he said.