The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has announced a round of voluntary redundancies that will see the agency shed up to 75 positions.

 

In a note to all staff on 14 February, the ABS announced a voluntary redundancy program "to assist in managing our response to the additional efficiency dividend, and the cut to our capital budget, that was implemented via the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook"

 

The Community and Public Sector Union was quick to damn the announcement, blaming the Federal Government’s budget cuts for driving continual job losses.

 

CPSU National Secretary Nadine Flood said: "It is now absolutely clear that the Government's budget cuts are directly causing job losses and service reductions.

 

"We expect to see similar announcements in coming months as other public sector departments struggle to cut their budgets.

 

"After years of cuts and so-called efficiency measures, the truth is many agencies have nothing left to cut but jobs and services.

 

"It's a no-brainer. When a $2.2 billion cut is imposed across the service, job losses will follow.”