Independent ACT Senate candidate Kim Rubenstein has deplored the Morrison Government’s decision to slash a further $3.3 billion from the public service to pay for its election commitments.

Professor Rubenstein said the cuts – which are likely to mean thousands of job losses – would have a severe impact on the ACT economy, and further undermine the ability of the public service to provide frank and fearless advice to government.

She said the decision underscored the need for her policy pledge to push for a doubling to four in the number of ACT senators if elected at the weekend.

“We have to end the unhealthy duopoly between the Liberals and Labor that means the needs and rights of Canberrans are constantly being ignored or overridden,” she said.

Professor Rubenstein said the $3.3 billion in cuts over four years announced by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg “not only undermines the nation, but also has a huge impact on the well-being of the ACT community”.

“The job of the public service is to provide frank and fearless advice, regardless of who is in power. Moves like this deliberately undermine and weaken that role – to the detriment of us all. We can’t let it stand.”

She said the latest cuts came on top of the Morrison Government’s blatant stacking of jobs for mates in bodies such as the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and the hollowing out and politicisation of the public service and government agencies.

“Our under-resourced and depleted public service carried a heavy burden in the depths of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic. They deserve better than the promise of further cuts that will impact heavily on the ACT economy at a time of worsening inflation and rising interest rates.

“Once again, the Federal Government is showing its indifference to the wellbeing of the Canberra community. It is further evidence that we need to boost ACT representation in the Senate to give Canberrans a stronger, diversified voice in Parliament.”