Government ridicules proposal to cut state jobs

The Government went on the attack yesterday over National's plan to cut state sector jobs.

In Parliament during question-time yesterday, State Services Minister Trevor Mallard said National would "turn back the clock" to when government departments were so short of resources that:

* Business people wanting tax returns were left on the phone for hours.

* Students were left begging at foodbanks as their loan and allowance applications were not processed.

* Policy decisions were made on the whim of ministers rather than through sound policy advice.

National finance spokesman John Key last week decried the burgeoning size of the state sector and said National in government would "identify waste" in a thorough review of all state spending.

The money saved would help to fund tax cuts.

He said Labour had been hiring at a fast and furious rate, racking up thousands of new staff in the core state sector to the extent that the Government now occupied over half of the commercial buildings in downtown Wellington.

A Treasury paper obtained by the Herald under the Official Information Act shows concern at the growing state sector wage bill, which has grown by between $750 million and $1 billion every year since Labour came to power.

Total state sector staff numbers in May 1999 stood at 245,201. By last September that figure had grown to 278,831 - up 33,630.

In the core government departments, staffing had risen from 30,702 to 38,270.

Mr Mallard yesterday outlined some of the new staff: 2700 extra teachers over and above those needed for roll growth, 950 medical doctors, 3300 nurses, and more than 820 prison staff and 1080 police staff.

Extra state workers

Increase in state sector workers since 1999:

* Teachers 2700 *
* Medical doctors 950
* Nurses 3300
* Prison officers more than 820
* Police staff 1080

* on top of those needed for rising rolls
(Figures cover only part of the total rise in state sector staff since 1999)