Issues such as Robodebt errors or even being able to sign up to the correct payment, mean there are plenty of things Centrelink staff respond to on a daily basis.

However, as hard as the system is to navigate, Centrelink appears to be one of several federal government agencies feeling the pinch of a policy decision in need of review.

Data from the Australian Public Service Commission has shown that federal public service staffing levels in Launceston and the North East are at their lowest since 2003.

The Coalition introduced an average staffing level cap in 2015, which dictates that the total public service workforce remain about or below 2006-07 staffing levels.

"[The cap] means that regardless of how much work needs to be done, agencies are forced to arbitrarily limit their staff. As a result we've seen much of the public service be privatised," Community and Public Sector Union Tasmania regional secretary Zac Batchelor said.

The decision to keep federal government public servants at capped levels does not reflect the needs of a growing population and changing economy, but rather one of years past.

Public servants bring with them higher disposable income and would bolster our growing population to take our cities to even greater heights, and the case for decentralisation still stands.

A case was made in 2018 by then-Treasurer Peter Gutwein and Tasmanian Senator Jonothan Duniam, who called on their federal counterparts to decentralise the public service. Tasmania has a growing population, but an injection of even more people is needed to bolster our growth as one of the state's top-performing economies.

More public service jobs could boost regional employment and spending with local businesses. Tasmania also presents a strong case for relocation, due to its liveability.

However, a case will remain just that, a case, unless the cap on federal public service jobs is reviewed and adapted to meet the needs of a changing state and country.