New report shows government workforce rose again

The government says its total personnel increased by just under half a per cent in the first quarter of this year.

In its latest public service workforce report - the last one under the current administration - the government says between January and March 20.5 full-time equivalent workers went onto the payroll.

It brings the current total number of full-time government posts to 4,446.

The report says the biggest gain was in the Department of Home Affairs - which added almost 20 full-time jobs - while the Cabinet Office saw the largest drop of almost four.