The size of the Australian Public Sector (APS) shrunk by 4.7 percent in the twelve months between 1 July 2013 and 30 June 2014, during which the Coalition Government was in power for approximately nine months. Unprecedented since 1998-99, (i.e. under John Howard’s Government) there have been more retrenchments than resignations, with retrenchments increasing from 27.8 percent to 41.5 percent of all separations, according to the latest statistical bulletin from the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC).