Tasmania's independent MP Kristie Johnston has accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of announcing 250 public sector job cuts 'by stealth', saying the move was not disclosed during his State of the State address in parliament. The cuts are part of a plan to replace the Department of State Growth with a new agency called Building Tasmania, which the Premier says will 'get things built' and save the budget more than a quarter of a billion dollars.
Johnston told ABC Radio Hobart that the Premier failed to mention the job losses in parliament, instead making the announcement through media and emails to department staff. 'He's done this under stealth, he didn't mention the 250 job losses within parliament, instead he did that by media announcement. That's not being open and honest and transparent,' she said.
The independent MP expressed concern about the lack of detail regarding the restructuring, noting that the Department of State Growth had 932 full-time equivalent employees as of September 30, 2025. Cutting 250 positions represents a quarter of the department's workforce, which Johnston argued would 'gut capacity' at a time when the department is tasked with delivering housing, roads, and major infrastructure projects.
Johnston also questioned the effectiveness of rebranding, stating that 'changing the sign on the door doesn't necessarily mean better outcomes.' She called for a more considered approach to public sector efficiency, rather than a 'slash and burn' strategy, and urged the government to engage with unions and the community on how to achieve genuine improvements.
