# Public service union refuses to back Labor at Victorian election, condemning job cuts and $1.2bn consultant spend

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/public-service-union-refuses-to-back-labor-at-victorian-election-condemning-job-cuts-and-1-2bn-consultant-spend/
- Published: 2026-11-03T14:00:46+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T20:41:12+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/nov/04/cpsu-public-servants-union-refuses-to-back-labor-at-victorian-election
- Topics: Business, Economy, Elections, Government, Politics, Software, Technology, World

## Key points

- The CPSU will not back Labor at Victoria’s November election.
- It cites job cuts and $1.2bn in consultant spending.
- The Coalition has proposed a long-term public service hiring freeze.

## Summary

Victoria’s Community and Public Sector Union says it will not support Labor at the state election, citing public service job cuts and its claim that the government spent $1.2bn on consultants. The decision adds to growing union discontent with the Carroll government ahead of the 28 November poll.

The union says about 1,000 Victorian public service roles, including more than 300 executive positions, were cut, followed by more than 200 restructures; the government says the changes saved $4bn and did not affect frontline roles. The union’s analysis of government annual reports found consultant spending of $1.2bn across 10 departments since 2017-18, with Treasury and Finance accounting for about $222m. The Coalition has separately proposed an indefinite hiring freeze on back-office roles, which it says would save $22bn over a decade.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.