I support a strong and independent public service. Outsourcing the public service to private contractors, as occurred under the LNP, has been financially costly – poor value for money - and has undermined the strength of the APS.  For this reason I do not support the proposed blanket reduction of 36,000 public servants. Our big services departments are in Bean - Services Australia and Social Services in Tuggeranong and Health and Aged Care in Woden - and cuts would also impact local trades and businesses. This is non-negotiable. I support valid system changes that result in genuine efficiency gains but not ideological attacks on the public service.

Meanwhile, the politicisation of senior appointments and contract employment has deskilled and compromised the strength and  independence of the public service.  I am campaigning for greater transparency and integrity in Government. I value evidence based policy and want public servants empowered to provide frank and fearless advice to the government of the day.  We must uphold these values to ensure we do not have another situation like Robodebt – a cascade of poor policy, compromised advice to a Government with an ideological agenda, flawed implementation resulting in a tragic outcome. 

These are things I will champion. We need to be able to trust in the expertise and integrity of our public service.