Tasmanian government implements DOGE-style hiring freeze

A hiring freeze on all non-essential staff in Tasmania’s State Service is being implemented as of today, the Deputy Premier has said.

In a statement issued on Sunday (2 March), the Treasurer and Deputy Premier of Tasmania, Guy Barnett, announced the implementation of a hiring freeze on all non-essential staff in the Apple Isle’s State Service.

While the Tasmanian government will continue to bolster its recruitment efforts to employ doctors, nurses, paramedics, teachers, and police, Barnett said, “action is needed” to implement the government’s fiscal strategy.

Tasmania needs, he proclaimed, to have a “right-sized” public service.

“One that operates as effectively and efficiently as possible, meets the needs of the community and provides value for money,” he said.

“The government must consider every taxpayer dollar it spends. That’s what Tasmanians expect.

“We will be working with the state service to increase productivity and better focus the capacity and capabilities of the workforce, including through digital innovation.”

The news follows Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s plan to cut 36,000 public service jobs at the federal level if he wins the looming election – a move that is eerily similar to those made by US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk through their newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Barnett conceded that there has been a significant increase in the number of state service employees over recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The rate of growth has been greater than the rate of growth in the Tasmanian population,” he said.

“The hiring freeze will assist in ensuring Tasmania has the right-sized state service and delivers on the priorities of Tasmanians.”

In response to the freeze, Tasmanian shadow treasurer Josh Willie said the announcement “is an admission that the Liberals have broken Tasmania’s budget”.

“After more than 10 years of the Liberals, Tasmania’s finances have never been in worse shape – but despite this, until today the Treasurer had maintained that he had everything under control,” he said.

“While the Treasurer’s honesty in finally admitting the Liberals have broken the budget is a welcome relief from his standard deflection, his proposal does not solve the problem they have created.

“Instead of sitting down with unions and businesses and making strategic decisions on how to responsibly improve the budget position, the Treasurer has taken the lazy and inefficient approach of a blanket freeze and handed the problem to unelected bureaucrats.

“Make no mistake, a blanket freeze will create inefficiencies and impact on government service delivery, with Tasmanians set to pay a heavy price for a decade of Liberal financial mismanagement.”