Labor defends plan to save $6.4bn by cutting more consultants as experts call it a ‘lazy option’

While the government's savings are a worthy target', achieving them may not be a straightforward process', some say

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Labor's plan to save $6.4bn by slashing the government's use of consultants and external labour over four years is a lazy option" that could risk some reduction in service levels", according to the former public service commissioner Andrew Podger.

This is despite Labor's claim the savings measure - which would require a re-elected Albanese government to increase the amount of core work being conducted by public servants - would not impact government services.

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