KEY POINTS:
I am disappointed a registered third party, the Public Service Association, has deliberately sought to irresponsibly mislead readers by suggesting a National-led government would cut frontline public services. This claim is untrue.
Its published article (October 21) is full of assertions and fear-mongering.
The most basic error is
the claim the National Party's promise to cap the bureaucracy and to try to find savings in Government administration equates to cuts in frontline services.
National has been very clear - we are not advocating a reduction in frontline services. They will be more effective and efficient because National will rebalance the public service in favour of frontline staff, rather than back-office bureaucrats.
The PSA asserts National plans to establish a "razor gang that will slash public services". National has promised to establish a Cabinet expenditure control committee, which will oversee the process of departmental chief executives undertaking a line-by-line review of expenditure, with the goal of identifying areas where sensible savings in Government administration can be made.
As families exercise restraint, the Government should do the same. This is a prudent and practical policy in the times.
For example, is a doubling in the number of public relations, communications, media staff and contractors in the past six years really value for money?
National does not intend to "slice services". It has promised to retain the budgeted growth in spending tracks for health and education.
The aim of the review will be to improve frontline services rather than erode them. It will do this by identifying savings in administration, not in "frontline services".
The PSA defends the size and growth of the public service. National's state services policy is based on data produced by Government agencies. Each claim we have made can be backed up.
During the past nine years, the growth in the size and cost of Government administration relative to frontline service delivery has been extraordinary.
The overall growth in central Government administration represents an increase of 52 per cent during a period in which the number of other state sector employees grew by only 14 per cent.
Housing the extra staff has put real pressure on Wellington office space.
In the past five years, Labour has overseen an increase in the amount of extra floor space leased for Government administrators in central Wellington equivalent to almost 19 rugby fields, or 13.5ha.
Since 2000, there have been more than 250 different strategies.
Wellington is littered with steering committees and interdepartmental working groups producing strategies, consultation documents and action plans.
If the PSA was thinking objectively, it would certainly be questioning the blank cheque Labour is asking for at this election.
If the PSA was acting objectively, it would be campaigning that Labour's long-distant tax cuts would also mean cuts to public services too.
However, the PSA doesn't do that and I'm sure the public will draw its own conclusions about the motivations for it.
National believes there is a high level of professionalism and competence in the public service. What is needed is effective political leadership that sets clear goals that are professionally communicated.
We understand that creating a professional environment of mutual respect is the best way to improve performance and productivity in the public service.
We will welcome competent professional advice, respect the right of officials to tender a dissenting view, and require clear boundaries between the roles of public servants and political advisers.
But National makes absolutely no apologies for developing policies that attempt to address Government waste and get the best value for the taxes that Kiwis pay.
We absolutely support the right of the PSA to voice a free opinion as a third party in election year. What we cannot support is a deliberate misinformation campaign designed to scare its members and the public.
* Gerry Brownlee is the National Party's state services spokesman.
