But summer likely won't be the traditional quiet period for public servants involved in the federal budget due in March.

The early budget is expected to have bureaucrats working through the summer as they scramble to ready proposals for cabinet decision makers by February.

Commonwealth agencies traditionally shut down between Christmas and New Year's Day, directing staff to take annual leave during the period.

Senior public service officials used end-of-year speeches in Canberra on Wednesday evening to encourage bureaucrats to recharge ahead of the new year, which is also expected to keep agencies busy writing incoming briefs for the next government following the election.

Prime Minister's Department secretary Phil Gaetjens said it was natural to be reflective as the year drew to a close.

"I encourage you to consider what you have achieved and to be proud of it," he said.

"While you recharge over the summer think about what will inspire you through the next year ahead."

Public service commissioner Peter Woolcott said new parliaments often brought a renewed energy, and the bureaucracy would play an important role in the caretaker period during the election.

"Whatever the outcome, the expectations on us from government and the Australian people will be enormous, and I have no doubt you will all keep on delivering," he said.

Mr Woolcott, a former Australian ambassador to Rome, quoted an Italian saying in telling public servants to recharge in the summer break: "Dolce far niente", or, "the sweetness of doing nothing".

Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy, who hosted the annual Institute of Public Administration end-of-year event on Wednesday, jokingly endorsed Mr Woolcott's sentiment.

"I plan to passionately embrace the sweetness of doing nothing," he said, to laughs in the audience.

The break could be a short one for Dr Kennedy, despite coming to the end of a year leading Treasury through another COVID-related economic downturn in 2021.

Treasury, along with the Finance Department and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, will lead the public service's work forming the next federal budget.

Agencies across the public service will have to bring forward their budget proposals for consideration by the cabinet's expenditure review committee. The budget is expected on March 29, and major spending decisions will likely need to be made by the first week of the month.

The expenditure review committee - which includes the Treasurer, Finance Minister, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and other senior Coalition ministers - is expected to be intensely busy in February. So are the central agencies supporting its work.

Former Finance Department deputy secretary Stephen Bartos said he expected agencies would still have an annual shutdown period this summer but could give staff budget-related work to do over the break.

However there would also be large parts of the public service's workforce unaffected by the budget process, he said.

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It is widely speculated Mr Morrison will call the next election after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg hands down the budget.

Mr Bartos said this would remove the chance for senators to question officials and government ministers about the budget through estimates hearings.

"That's actually not good for scrutiny of government, because it means one of the most critical times for scrutiny will be skipped," he said.

While the next election is due by May, Mr Morrison could call one before the budget, if he sees a political advantage.

After trying to get a federal budget ready more than a month early, the hard work could come to sweet nothing for public servants.

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