A Crikey analysis has found 38,000 public service job cuts have been announced at the federal and state levels over the past few years. A further 24,000 positions are on the line (the federal Coalition says it will cull 12,000 positions, while the Queensland government has hinted at a possible further 12,000-20,000 job losses).

Here’s where the axe has fallen …

Federal government:

Job cuts of 4228 announced in 2012-13 budget, to take effect this financial year (this does not include an additional 1154 jobs for Defence military and reservists, because they are not public servants). Largest cuts are to Treasury, Attorney-General’s, and Human Services.

Joe Hockey has said if the Coalition wins government it would make 12,000 public servants redundant over two years. Hockey noted there were 20,000 more federal public servants now than there were in 2007; unions expect the Coalition to sack more than 12,000.

Total: 4228 full-time equivalent jobs to be cut, rising to 16,000 if the Coalition wins.

New South Wales:

Some 5000 voluntary redundancies announced in September 2011 (O’Farrell government).

Additionally, the 2012-13 budget set a 1.2% per annum reduction in labour costs across the public service, which unions say equates to 10,000 jobs. The government says nurses, police officers and school teachers will be quarantined, and concedes there is no cap on the number of jobs to go, so it could be higher than 10,000.

The Labor opposition says Treasury documents show 3600 jobs will be cut from hospitals and 2400 from schools and TAFEs over the next four years.

Total: 15,000 FTE job cuts announced since 2011; that may rise.

Queensland:

In May 2011 the former Labor government announced 3500 voluntary redundancies over three years, extending the program in early 2012 to cover an extra 1500 positions. (An estimated 4500 jobs were cut as a result.)

Additionally, Premier Campbell Newman has said about 3000 jobs have been cut recently (most from non-renewal of temporary contracts). About 2000 jobs are to go from Queensland Rail. More cuts are expected in the September budget; Newman has said the state is employing 20,000 more public servants than it can afford, and significant extra cuts can be implemented without reducing services. (It’s not clear whether Newman’s 20,000 figure includes jobs already cut.)

Total: at least 7500 FTE cuts announced since 2011; more expected.

South Australia:

Some 1000 FTE were cut in the 2012-13 budget (cuts to take effect over three years from 2013-14, through voluntary redundancies and natural attrition). This comes on top of 400 jobs cut in the 2011 budget, and 3750 jobs cut in the 2010 budget.

Total: 5150 FTE cuts announced since 2010.

Victoria:

In December 2011 the government cut 3600 jobs; a further 600 cuts were announced in the 2012 budget. So far, jobs have been cut through attrition and non-renewal of contracts. The government recently announced the number of positions to be cut from each department.

Union sources say the Vertigan Review into state finances recommends cuts of up to 7000 (including jobs already cut).

Total: 4200 FTE cuts announced since 2011.

Tasmania:

The 2012-13 budget said 1098 FTE jobs had already been cut. The Health Services Union said the budget indicated another 800 jobs would be cut. Labor says it has quarantined health, police and education.

Total: 1898 FTE cuts announced since 2011.

Northern Territory:

The CSPU says the 2012-13 budget cut $300 million from the public service, with agency budgets cut by between 0.75% and 3%.

Western Australia:

Does not appear to be cutting the public service, although there are reports some agencies do not fill their FTEs.