Morrison dumps bureaucrats in overhaul of public service

Education and employment departments merged as government emphasises continuity and lifelong learning

Prime minister Scott Morrison has announced a radical shake-up of the federal public service, including merging the departments of education and employment to form a ‘super-department’.

Five departmental secretaries have been sacked, the number of government departments will be cut from 18 to 14, and the arts will be merged into a mega-department dealing with transport, regional development and telecommunications. The changes will take effect from 1 February next year.