Government departments average one in five contract workers amid concerns of 'stealthy privatisation'

Sarah Basford Canales
Updated January 19 2021 - 7:48am, first published 4:30am
The Department of Veterans' Affairs recorded the highest contracted workforce of the federal departments. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos
The Department of Veterans' Affairs recorded the highest contracted workforce of the federal departments. Picture: Dion Georgopoulos

Nearly one in five people working in federal government departments are employed on external contracts or through labour-hire firms, analysis by The Canberra Times shows, amid concerns by critics the government was being privatised by stealth.

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Sarah Basford Canales

Sarah Basford Canales

Politics and public sector reporter

I'm a federal politics and public sector reporter with an interest in national security, integrity and regulation. Contact me with general tips and thoughts at sarah.basfordcanales@canberratimes.com.au or confidential tips to sbasfordcanales@protonmail.com.

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