The final stage of the Department of Internal Affairs' change process is to go ahead, with reconsultation on some changes, the Secretary for Internal Affairs Paul James has announced.

"We’ve listened to staff feedback, and we’ve decided to go ahead with most of our proposals, and to reconsult on some changes. This reconsultation will focus solely on areas where the new proposals are fundamentally different to the original,” Paul James says.

This announcement follows the first phase of organisational change, introduced last year.

“We’ve been in a period of change for some time, and it is important we get this right. I want to thank staff for their continued engagement and patience while we reconsult, causing a slight delay to announcing final decisions.

This final stage of the Department’s change process, aimed at increasing efficiency and reducing costs, is targeting approximately $8 million in savings. It will disestablish 166 positions and create 106 new roles, resulting in a net reduction of 60 established positions, equivalent to 2% of the Department’s total workforce. 70 temporary roles are also closing.

“Today’s announcement marks a major step in reshaping how we operate as an organisation, reducing costs and supporting a more cohesive and sensible structure.

“We’ll continue to look for ways to improve how we work and save money, while still delivering for the people, communities and Ministers we serve. Once this change process is finished, I am not expecting further organisation-wide change of this scale,” Paul James said.

The re-consultation will run for three weeks, with final feedback due by 15 July 2025.

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