New South Wales Family and Community Services (FACS) Minister Brad Hazzard has refused to confirm whether his department's budget will be slashed by $70 million next year.

Labor has obtained internal departmental documents titled "Changing the Way We Work" which suggest it must find annual savings of $70 million.

"The majority of these savings will come from staff reductions in the central parts of FACS where we will need to be 30 per cent smaller," the document states.

The NSW Opposition used budget estimates to confront the Minister about the document, asking how many FACS staff would be slashed as a result of a $70 million budget cut.

But Mr Hazzard refused to confirm or deny the figure and would not put a number on job losses, only saying there would be no frontline cuts.

"I'm not confirming anything at this point except for the fact that the budget that we have will be more than adequate to meet the various needs because I as a minister will ensure that," Mr Hazzard said.

He said there were efficiency cuts taking place across all departments.

"If there does need to be more funds I will happily argue, as I did this year, for additional funds out of treasury," he said.

There were heated exchanges as Labor committee member Penny Sharpe pushed him to put a figure on job cuts.

"It's a $70 million cut. How many staff are going? It's not unreasonable for this committee to be asking that question. That's what estimates are actually for," Ms Sharpe said.

But Mr Hazzard refused to detail any job cuts.

"I have just confirmed to you that there would be no frontline cuts," Mr Hazzard said.

Ms Sharpe continued to press the point.

"That's not what I'm asking, Minister," she said.

"I understand the difference."

Mr Hazzard still would not confirm any budget or job cuts.

"It's becoming rather tedious," Mr Hazzard shot back.

'No savings from frontline child protection positions'

After the hearing, the Director General of the NSW Department of Service Michael Coutts-Trotter issued a statement confirming that 91 positions would be cut in the FACS central office.

The statement came after Labor issued a press release suggesting as many as 5,000 jobs could go.

Mr Coutts-Trotter described that claim as "stunningly wrong".

"Documents published inside our department and provided to unions and to the NSW Industrial Relations Commission make plain we will reduce our central office by 91 positions, with 86 of these being executive positions," he said.

"In addition to the 91 net job losses, we are also reducing our use of contractors and eliminating some vacant positions in central offices.

"No savings have come from frontline child protection positions.

"Caseworker numbers have risen over time and we have the lowest vacancy rate among caseworkers for six years."