Ending Waste, Prioritizing Australians

Preamble

Australia’s government spending has ballooned, with waste and inefficiency draining taxpayer funds that could better serve our people and economy. As of March 16, 2025, redundant bureaucracies, excessive overseas aid, and handouts to politicians siphon billions from critical needs like infrastructure and frontline services. This policy slashes surplus expenditure, redirects funds to rebuild Australia, and ensures public services focus on delivery, not bloated management. We aim to restore fiscal discipline and invest in a stronger, self-reliant nation.

Current State of Government Expenditure and Waste

Government spending hit $682.8 billion in 2023-24 (ABS, General Government Final Consumption Expenditure), with payments at 25.2% of GDP (Treasury). Waste is rampant:

• High-Level Surplus: The public service grew by 36,000 positions under Labor (ABC, 2025), with upper management roles—e.g., APS Levels 6 to EL2—costing $4–$5 billion annually (assuming $120,000–$150,000 per role, APSC data). Agencies like the eSafety Commission ($12 million budget, 2023-24) duplicate state-level online safety efforts and lack measurable impact, per X critiques.
• Overseas Spending: Australia pledged $960 million to Ukraine since 2022 (DFAT, 2024), including $250 million in military aid in 2024 alone, with no direct economic return. Total foreign aid was $4.2 billion in 2023-24 (Budget 2024-25), often benefiting distant nations over Australian taxpayers.
• Politicians’ Residual Payments: Former MPs receive pensions under the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme, costing $50–$60 million yearly (extrapolated from 2016 estimates, adjusted for inflation). Current MPs get $233,000 base salaries (2025), with no justification for post-service handouts.
• Total Waste Estimate: Combining these—$5 billion (surplus public service), $4.2 billion (foreign aid), and $60 million (pensions)—yields $9–$10 billion annually in identifiable waste.

Failures of Current Policy

• Bureaucratic Bloat: The Albanese government’s $77.4 billion in “savings” (Treasury, 2024) masks a failure to cut redundant agencies, instead adding layers like the eSafety Commission while frontline services lag.
• Overseas Focus: Sending $960 million to Ukraine and $4.2 billion abroad prioritizes global optics over domestic needs, ignoring housing stress (30% of income, Mozo) and infrastructure deficits ($100 million overruns, KPMG).
• Entitlements Culture: Residual payments to ex-MPs, unchanged since Howard-era reforms, reward past service at taxpayers’ expense, unlike private-sector norms.
• Service Inefficiency: Health (1:1,600 doctor-to-patient ratio, below OECD) and education (class sizes up 10%) suffer from top-heavy staffing—e.g., 20% of APS roles are EL1/EL2 or higher (APSC, 2023).

Policy Proposal: Slash Waste, Invest in Australia

We propose a lean, Australia-first expenditure framework:

1. Eliminate Surplus and Redundant Agencies:
   • Abolish eSafety Commission: Save $12 million annually; redirect online safety to state police and education ($5 million each).
   • Cut Surplus Upper Management: Reduce APS EL1/EL2 roles by 25% (5,000–6,000 positions), saving $750 million–$1 billion yearly. Retain frontline staff (e.g., APS 1–5).
   • Total Savings: $1–$1.5 billion annually.
2. End Unjustified Overseas Spending:
   • Halt Ukraine Aid: Cease $250 million yearly military aid and review $960 million total for repatriation where possible.
   • Cap Foreign Aid: Slash to $1 billion annually (humanitarian only), saving $3.2 billion from $4.2 billion.
   • Total Savings: $3.5–$4 billion annually.
3. Cut Politicians’ Residual Payments:
   • End Pensions: Limit MP compensation to active service ($233,000 base, 2025); abolish post-tenure payments, saving $50–$60 million yearly.
   • Total Savings: $50–$60 million annually.
4. Streamline Government Services:
   • Centralize Back-Office Functions: Merge HR, IT, and procurement across agencies, saving $500 million yearly (based on UK efficiencies, GOV.UK).
   • Prioritize Key Services: Health, education, police, and transport get 80% of staffing focus (APS 1–5 levels), cutting management overhead.
5. Redirect Funds to Economy and Infrastructure:
   • Total Redirectable Funds: $5–$6 billion annually from above cuts.
   • Infrastructure Investment: $4 billion/year for roads (e.g., $500 million for regional upgrades), rail ($1 billion), and energy grids ($2.5 billion to hit $0.10/kWh industrial power).
   • Economic Projects: $1.5 billion/year for manufacturing (e.g., green steel) and agriculture (e.g., irrigation), creating 50,000 jobs (KPMG multiplier).
   • Service Boost: $500 million/year to train 5,000 health/education workers, lifting capacity 10%.

Addressing Key Public Services and Employment Levels

• Appropriate Staffing: Health (target 1:1,200 doctor ratio), education (25:1 student-teacher ratio), and police (1:400 ratio) need 20,000–30,000 more frontline workers (APSC benchmarks). Cuts target upper management (EL1+), not service delivery.
• Efficiency Gains: Streamlining saves $500 million and speeds service delivery (e.g., pension processing down from weeks to days, per ABC critique of Labor inefficiencies).
• Community Impact: Faster roads, reliable power, and local jobs reduce living costs (10% of budgets, Finder) and housing stress.

Why Australian Needs Come First

• Economic Strain: Inflation at 2.4% (ABS, Dec 2024) and GDP growth at 0.1% (AFR, Mar 2024) can’t sustain $10 billion in waste while 48% of Australians cut living standards (Finder).
• Infrastructure Deficit: $62.8 billion over four years (KPMG) isn’t enough—$4 billion more annually closes gaps without new taxes.
• Self-Reliance: Cutting overseas spending and politician perks keeps wealth here, not in Kyiv or Canberra’s elite.

Positive Outlook

By 2029, this policy delivers:

• Savings: $5–$6 billion annually, totaling $20–$24 billion over four years.
• Growth: 50,000 jobs, $10 billion GDP boost (industry models), and $0.10/kWh power for industry.
• Services: Health and education at OECD standards, with 10% more capacity.
• Trust: A government that works for Australians, not bureaucrats or foreign agendas.

Conclusion

Australia’s government has lost its way, squandering billions on redundant agencies, overseas vanity projects, and politician handouts while roads crumble and families struggle. This policy ends the waste—$5–$6 billion yearly—redirecting it to infrastructure, jobs, and services that matter. By slashing surplus management, not frontline workers, we ensure efficient, effective support for every Australian. It’s time to stop funding the unnecessary and start building a future we can afford.