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ABC News
ABC News
Business
political reporter Tom Lowrey

Public service audit reveals $20.8b spent on external contractors and consultants in 2021-22

The government claims the audit unveiled an expensive "shadow workforce" within the public service.  (Supplied: Canva)

An audit of the Australian Public Service (APS) workforce has found close to $21 billion was spent hiring tens of thousands of external contractors and consultants in the final year of the former Liberal-National Coalition being in power.

The audit looked at the 2021-22 financial year, examining how the APS was outsourcing work, and what those arrangements were costing the budget.

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