Public Service Minister Nicola Willis has defended the government’s decision to cut thousands of public sector jobs, stating that taxpayers’ money is now being spent more wisely.
Willis’ latest advice put the number at 3900, including removing 2250 roles and closing 1150 vacancies. Further savings initiatives “additional to the baseline savings exercise” would remove about another 500 jobs. Willis said that change was challenging, but the government was responsible for ensuring public spending delivered maximum value for money.
Willis said the public service had increased by 34% since 2017, but the public had not received the best value for its money. She said the public had not seen lower waiting times for elective surgery in the health system, increased literacy and numeracy achievement in schools, or reduced violent crime.
Willis was grilled on job cuts in specific areas and their effect on the public. Labour’s Rachel Boyack said some frontline police officers and medical professionals were worried they would be lumped with extra administration work due to back-office job cuts.
Willis denied that these staff were being lumped with extra administration work and assured that they were safeguarded from job cuts.
Affected public servants are being provided mental health support, and the Public Service Commission has been made aware of instances of delays in providing mental health support.
