Australian Politics Forum - Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?

Daves2017

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Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:29pm

Chris Smith on 2sm morning radio made a interesting comment today.

I can’t quote exactly so please correct me if I’m wrong but I’ll put it in ball park figures.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 2.7 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 2.5 million people.

If this is correct we are way pass needing a plumber to fix the country.

We need to call in professional pest control and eradicate the problem!

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Don’t vote for any of them!

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Bobby.

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #1 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:35pm

You have mixed up Federal and State employees.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel);

1,939,100 in State government; and. 213,500 in Local government.

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #2 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:37pm

Bobby. wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:35pm:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel);

The US has over 2.2 million defence force personnel alone, let alone the other 3 million people in the federal government.

So:

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #3 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm

Ball park figures are correct.

Dutton wants to cut the bloated bureaucracy Albaloney wants to increase it.

Labor squeal like a stuck pig when cuts to bureaucracy are mentioned they are part of the problem.

Esafety Karen on $450K a year she lost every court case against Elon Musk costing taxpayers millions.
The whole Esafety thing can be abolished saving us millions.

Social media has terms of service in relation to illegal content we don't need esafety bullshit.

That is just one example of waste.

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Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 106437 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp? Reply #4 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm In any case - there are far too many public service fat cats. It's time to say "you're fired" just like the big guy says.
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greggerypeccary Gold Member Online Australian Politics Posts: 139096 Gender:	Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp? Reply #5 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm: Ball park figures are correct. Not even close. The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people. Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.
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Bobby.

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #6 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:42pm

I should have been a public servant -
nice pay if you can get it -

https://www.afr.com/politics/these-32-public-servants-earn-more-than-1-million-2...

Highest-paid public sector employees

Agency    Name    Role    Total*

1    NBN    Stephen Rue    CEO    $3,037,016

2    Australia Post    Paul Graham    CEO    $2,385,610

3    Western Sydney Airport    Simon Hickey    CEO    $1,610,978

4    Future Fund    Raphael Arndt    CEO    $1,563,561

5    NBN    Kathrine Dyer    COO    $1,519,571

6    Snowy Hydro    Roger Whitby    COO    $1,475,610

7    Future Fund    Ben Samild    Deputy CIO    $1,373,300

8    Snowy Hydro    Iain Graham    CEO, Red Energy    $1,339,285

9    Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation    Alison Tarditi    CIO    $1,325,553

10    Snowy Hydro    Gordon Wymer    Chief commercial officer    $1,318,978

11    Australia Post    Rod Barnes    EGM network operations    $1,283,008

12    Future Fund    Alicia Gregory    Deputy CIO    $1,279,967

13    NBN    Will Irving    Chief strategy and transformation officer    $1,275,094

14    Future Fund    Not disclosed    Not disclosed    $1,248,036

15    Snowy Hydro    Paul Broad    Former CEO    $1,220,412

16    NBN    Philip Knox    CFO    $1,218,992

17    Australia Post    Rodney Boys    CFO    $1,198,563

18    Australia Post    Gary Starr    EGM parcel, post and eCommerce    $1,196,625

19    Future Fund    Not disclosed    Not disclosed    $1,194,397

20    Australia Post    Catriona Noble    EGM Retail, brand and marketing    $1,189,097

21    ABC    David Anderson    CEO and managing editor    $1,156,969

22    Reserve Bank of Australia    Philip Lowe    Governor    $1,147,465

23    Australia Post    Susan Davies    EGM people and culture    $1,143,204

24    Australia Post    Not disclosed    Not disclosed    $1,109,190

25    Federal Circuit and Family Court    William Alstergren    Chief justice    $1,097,339

26    Future Fund    Not disclosed    Not disclosed    $1,071,472

27    Defence    General Angus Campbell    Chief of the defence force    $1,062,702

28    NBN    John Parkin    Chief engineering officer    $1,052,988

29    Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation    Damian Hill    CEO    $1,038,474

30    Snowy Hydro    Gabrielle Curtin    Group executive    $1,035,649

31    Future Fund    Cameron Price    General counsel and chief risk officer    $1,011,614

32    Defence    Greg Moriarty    Secetary    $1,006,474

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #7 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel);

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

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Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #8 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:51pm

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel)

;

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

Lol

Your own link shows I'm 100% correct.

We're discussing federal government.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #9 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:07pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:51pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel)

;

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

Lol

Your own link shows I'm 100% correct.

We're discussing federal government.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

The OP wasn't about federal read it again.

We have around 1 in 10 Australians with jobs paid for by taxpayers

The US has how many jobs per people funded by taxpayers?

Our bloated bureacracy is the reason why people pay over $15 for a pint in a pub, it's why we pay $50 for a pack of smokes and over $28 for a 6 pack.

The US is around $5 for smokes 6 pack under $10.

We pay double for new cars and twice as much for petrol because of taxes to pay these people.

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« Last Edit: Feb 4^th, 2025 at 11:03pm by Baronvonrort »

Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #10 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:18pm

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:07pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:51pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel)

;

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

Lol

[s]Your own link shows I'm 100% correct.

We're discussing federal government.[s/]

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

The OP wasn't about federal read it again.

The OP was intentionally deceptive.

It shows US numbers for just federal government employees, not including defence force personnel.

In contrast, it shows Australian numbers for federal, state and local government employees including defence force personnel.

Very dishonest.

This is a more accurate assessment:

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

These figures include defence force personnel for both countries (as opposed to the inaccurate OP).

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Baronvonrort

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #11 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 11:12pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:18pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:07pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:51pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel)

;

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

Lol

Your own link shows I'm 100% correct.

We're discussing federal government.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

The OP wasn't about federal read it again.

....

You didn't answer the question

We have around 1 in 10 Australians with jobs paid for by taxpayers

The US has how many jobs per people funded by taxpayers?

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« Last Edit: Feb 4^th, 2025 at 11:18pm by Baronvonrort »

Leftists and the Ayatollahs have a lot in common when it comes to criticism of Islam, they don't tolerate it.

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Daves2017

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #12 - Feb 4^th, 2025 at 11:17pm

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:18pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 10:07pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:51pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:48pm:

greggerypeccary wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:40pm:

Baronvonrort wrote on Feb 4^th, 2025 at 9:39pm:

Ball park figures are correct.

Not even close.

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a government workforce of 365,400 people.

Pecca is a bullshitter

Quote:

Public sector employment and earnings

Contains estimates of public sector employees and cash wages and salaries by level of government, state and industry

Key statistics

There were 2,517,900 public sector employees in the month of June 2024 comprising:

365,400 employees in Commonwealth government (including defence force personnel)

;

1,939,100 in State government;

213,500 in Local government.

Total public sector cash wages and salaries in 2023-24 was $232,136.6 million.

https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/public-sect...

Nearly 10% of all jobs in Australia are funded by taxpayers.

We need to reduce this number so these people contribute to Australia instead of being an albatross around taxpayers necks.

Lol

[s]Your own link shows I'm 100% correct.

We're discussing federal government.[s/]

The USA has a population of 330 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 5.2 million people.

Australia has a population of 30 million people and a (federal) government workforce of 365,400 people.

The OP wasn't about federal read it again.

The OP was intentionally deceptive.

Nein, I made it clear I could not quote it as it was a radio show.

Chris Smith on 2sm made the comment ( as best I have remember them) just before signing off at midday 4/2/2025.

If anyone could be bothered I’m sure the recording is available?

I have not tried to be deceptive in anyway.

He also said something along the lines of and I don’t quote “ we need musk in Australia once he fixes America problems “

I also tend to agree with that as well.😎

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Don’t vote for any of them!

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Brian Ross

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #13 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 10:55am

Please tell me, how is Mr, Potato going to sack state employees? He would be, if elected be the Prime Minister and only have control of the Federal Public Service. As he intends to cut the Federal Public service, the states will be expected to make up the slack. Such a bunch of Right Wing sycophants, such fools. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

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Someone said we could not judge a person's Aboriginality on their skin colour. Why isn't that applied in the matter of Pascoe? Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

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Frank

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Re: Is it too late to drain the Canberra swamp?
Reply #14 - Feb 5^th, 2025 at 11:13am

Brian Ross wrote on Feb 5^th, 2025 at 10:55am:

Please tell me, how is Mr, Potato going to sack state employees? He would be, if elected be the Prime Minister and only have control of the Federal Public Service. As he intends to cut the Federal Public service, the states will be expected to make up the slack. Such a bunch of Right Wing sycophants, such fools. Tsk, tsk, tsk... Roll Eyes

So you are saying that there is a a MASSIVE duplication in state and federal public service.

Ta.

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