Refocusing the public service (03 Mar 2025)

Hello everyone,

Yesterday, the Tasmanian Government announced a refocus of the public service to increase productivity, by better managing the capabilities and capacity of the workforce, including through structural change as required and digital innovation.

As public servants, we need to ensure that we have a high performing workforce that is the right size and shape, in the right place and equipped with the right tools and resources to deliver our important services to the community of Tasmania.

We know that there has been a significant increase in the number of state service employees over recent years, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Over the last five years we have increased our public sector headcount by close to 18 per cent.  The Tasmanian population in a similar five-year time has only increased by 5 per cent.

As part of the refocus, the Tasmanian Government has implemented a hiring freeze on all non-essential staff within the State Service effective immediately.  As such, I will be working with Heads of Agencies to implement this change and monitoring process, noting that active recruitment processes will be carefully examined to ensure they are essential.

Your Head of Agency will provide further details and keep you informed.

Kind regards,

Kathrine Morgan-Wicks
Head of the State Service
Secretary, Department of Premier and Cabinet
03 Mar 2025