Fed: Five departments spent $53 million on recruitment agencies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-2005
Fed: Five departments spent $53 million on recruitment agencies

Five federal government departments spent $53 million on recruitment agencies last year.

And the figure is set to skyrocket into the hundreds of millions when another 11 departments
reveal their costs.

Immigration Minister AMANDA VANSTONE'S department forked out almost $24 million on
recruitment agencies in 2004.

Almost $9.5 million was spent in Attorney-General PHILIP RUDDOCK'S portfolio, while
former transport minister JOHN ANDERSON'S department paid more than $14.5 million on recruitment.

And the environment and heritage portfolio headed by IAN CAMPBELL spent $3.5 million
on last year.

Another 11 departments are yet to unveil how much they spent on recruitment agencies last year.

Labor backbencher CHRIS BOWEN questioned the government about the cost of recruitment
agencies and has demanded the departments justify the costs.

AAP RTV sm/sw/goc/wz

KEYWORD: RECRUITMENT (CANBERRA)

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