The NSW government has tipped more than $1.4 billion into the pockets of private consultants and spent almost $500 million on its temporary workforce since coming to power in 2011.

The multibillion-dollar spend on private sector contracts comes as the government has repeatedly cut its own departments and reduced the size of the public sector workforce for five consecutive years.

Finance Minister Victor Dominello said the spending on consultants was justified. Credit:Orlando Chiodo

Following last week's state budget, the public sector will have to find about $1.6 billion of savings over the next four years, after the government increased the annual efficiency dividend on the public service from 2 to 3 per cent.

Finance Minister Victor Dominello said the spending on consultants was justified as the government had pursued an "an unprecedented level of reform" while in office.