Federal budget to cut number of agencies

KEY MEASURES IN SMALLER GOVERNMENT/ASSET SALES AGENDA:

* Reduce the number of government bodies by 35.

* The fifth phase of smaller government agenda will be included in the mid-year budget review.

* $106 million savings through efficiencies in Department of Health, $10 million to be reinvested in the analytic capacity.

* $131 million savings from efficiencies in Department of Education and Training.

* $54.2 million savings over five years through efficiencies from 2014/15 in Attorney-General's Department.

* $168.1 million savings over four years in Department of Immigration through efficiencies, visa simplification from 2015/16.

* Government will initiate further functional reviews of the following government departments and agencies:

- Department of Agriculture

- Department of the Environment

- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

- Department of the Treasury

- Attorney-General's Department

- Australian Taxation Office

- Department of Social Services

- Australian Bureau of Statistics

* Sales of four properties within the parliamentary triangle:

- East Block

- West Block

- ANZAC Park East

- ANZAC Park West

* Retain ownership of the John Gorton Building (Finance) and Treasury Building - for now.

* Sell property previously used by the Australian Emergency Management Institute at Mount Macedon and surplus regional properties.

* Undertake scoping study in 2015/16 into the future of Australian Rail Track Corporation. Recommendations considered 2016/17.

* Competitive tender process to test market on the capacity of private operator to upgrade and operate ASIC registry services. Ownership of data will remain with government.

* Won't proceed with sale of Defence Housing Australia, for now.

* Consult further on ownership options for Australian Hearing.

* Scoping study into future ownership of Intra Government Communications.

* Royal Australia Mint retained.

(Source: federal goverment)