Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Of course the Greens support the Australian Public Service and this motion. We support removing the harmful staffing cap and, while this motion doesn't cover it, we also despair at the creeping privatisation of the Public Service through the billions of dollars in contracts that have been gifted by this government to the four big consulting firms who regularly donate to the Liberal Party. But what we most wanted to put on record is that public servants have literally saved Australian lives on multiple occasions so far in 2020, from the weather forecasting of the Bureau of Meterology to the ABC bringing the warnings of fire and COVID into our homes to our public health officials providing best advice to politicians and local communities alike. Throughout a harrowing year, the Australian people have again relied on Public Service workers for support and action. We owe public servants a great deal, and the Greens ask the government to reflect on the importance of strong public institutions as they prepare the October budget.