Government departments are on a mission to cut spending by 6.5 to 7.5 per cent before the coalition Government’s first Budget in May. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Government departments are on a mission to cut spending by 6.5 to 7.5 per cent before the coalition Government’s first Budget in May. Photo / Mark Mitchell
EDITORIAL
Cutbacks and restraint are common subjects in workplaces across the country, but news of a public sector boss dipping into his own pocket to pay for work travel, and staff at another ministry proposing bring-your-own-plate meetings is a new low.
BusinessDesk reported that, in June 2017, there was the fulltime equivalent (FTE) of about 47,000 public servants - in the following six years, an additional 16,000, or 34 per cent, were added.
Cost-cutting efforts are already well under way across departments, but information released to the Herald shows for some, those staff numbers simply need to be reduced.
Stats NZ has paused recruitment, reduced leave liability, moved into shared office space, introduced travel restrictions and extended the summer close-down period. It’s still facing a budget overspend of approximately $10.4 million and has told workers “current staffing levels are unsustainably high”. Job cuts are clearly needed.
For others however, minor tinkering is going on that only serves to make our public sector a less attractive place to work, running the risk of driving more talent offshore. We all know Australia is coming for our workers with sun-drenched ad campaigns offering better money, better perks and better weather.
What you don’t think about is public servants drinking plunger coffee in the staff kitchen, sausage rolls at staff meetings and accommodation provided during work trips.
Yet it’s these things that staff themselves at the Ministry of Transport are suggesting senior leadership consider to trim bottom lines. Bring-your-own-plate meetings, staying with friends rather than in hotels when travelling for work. The Ministry of Social Development has got rid of plunger coffee from the staff kitchen to save $70,000 a year.
Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani is paying for his own flights to get around the country to inform staff of potential job cuts.
“Because we currently have travel restrictions in place, he has decided to fund this travel personally,” a statement from the ministry read.
Oranga Tamariki chief executive Chappie Te Kani.
It’s hard to believe this frugality is the kind of cost-cutting that Finance Minister Nicola Willis is wanting when it comes to “restoring discipline” to taxpayer spending.
Nobody would expect expensive catered lunches and luxury hotel rooms in the current climate, but neither should we expect a run-down public sector that nobody wants to work in.
Where is the leadership to ensure our public sector is trimmed where the bloat exists, while protecting a workforce that’s crucial to upholding the highest standards for society?
Perhaps it’s been lost in the confusion surrounding what counts as a frontline service.
During the election campaign, National promised only to target backroom jobs with cost cuts and to protect frontline services.
“Instead, we’ve asked chief execs to exercise their judgements in putting forward proposals, and of course that will vary from department to department.”
Chief executives certainly are exercising their judgements, and the result is a public sector in disarray.
What a sorry state of affairs when we’ve got workers paying from their own pocket to do their job due to a lack of direction from above.
