Albanese government spends $711m on public service exits over four years
The Albanese government paid out $305 million in redundancies in 2025-26, more than doubling forecasts, bringing four-year total to $711 million.
The government's spending on staff exits has jumped sharply. In 2025-26, redundancy and separation payouts hit 305 million, more than double the 168 million forecast.
The 305 million was the largest amount spent on exits since Labor came to power. Analysis of past budget outcome documents by The Canberra Times shows the four-year total has now reached 711 million.
Home Affairs processed 679 exits, mainly from Immigration and Border Force. The Department of Social Service paid out 26.6 million to 302 departing staff, with one exit costing at least 188,000.
The Department of Education saw exit numbers nearly triple. The spike comes from voluntary redundancy programs that departments rolled out last financial year to reallocate funds and close finished projects.
Despite the higher exit costs, the government still saved 275 million more on overall wages than it forecast.
- $305 million
- 2025-26 redundancy payouts
- $711 million
- Four-year total since 2022-23
- $168 million
- Initial 2025-26 forecast
- 679
- Home Affairs exits processed
Why it mattersRedundancy spending is money leaving government payrolls without reducing the overall wage bill as intended. It shows how much it costs to restructure the public service.
AustraliaAustralian taxpayers are funding the cost of reshaping the public sector workforce. The government hoped wage cuts would exceed exit costs, but the gap between them is narrowing.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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