Coalition cuts to public service jobs could push out social service payment wait times by months, Labor says

Peter Dutton has pledged to slash 41,000 public service jobs but the public service minister, Katy Gallagher, has warned it would see the return of costly consultancy bills and worsened services for Australians. Composite: AAP

Australians could have to wait weeks longer, or even months, for social service payments if Peter Dutton delivers on his pledge to slash public service 41,000 jobs, new Albanese government analysis shows.

The opposition is ramping up its efforts to sell budget savings through cutting bureaucrat jobs as the key to helping other Australians out with the cost-of-living crisis.