Labor releases election promise costings including saving of $6.4bn from cutting more consultants

As Labor seeks to bolster its election campaign with $6.4 billion in savings, the government plans to cut reliance on consultants and labor firms while maintaining core public service functions. Treasurer Jim Chalmers reassured agencies that these cuts won’t affect service quality or staff levels, despite warnings from S&P about potential treasuries hitting high spending levels. Meanwhile, Labor also aims to raise student visa costs and expand telehealth services, adding further savings but still short of its targeted bulk-billed GP visits. The government’s strategy seeks to maintain its AAA rating as it navigates uncertain economic times with rising public spending across key sectors.