National to lower cap on public servants
National's promising to further lower the cap on public service jobs as it looks to make savings in the state sector.
The party capped public service jobs at 38,859 when it first came into office in 2008, and now plans to bring the cap down to the current staffing level of 36,475.
More government departments may be merged or made to share functions, to help find nearly $1 billion in savings over three years.
National's state services spokesman Tony Ryall announcedthe plans on Friday as part of its a public service policy.
"We're also going to continue the drive that we've got to get greater efficiencies in the public service, look at opportunities to have fewer agencies ... and a real focus on results," he says.
So far, 2500 public sector jobs have been cut through the introduction of the cap, and Mr Ryall says it may drop further.
"Some projections we put out mid-year thought we might have another 500 or so jobs go over the next couple of years ... but we don't have a target."
Asked what future department mergers might be on the cards, Mr Ryall said "there are a number of options that will have to be looked at from time to time".
"We don't have a pipeline of these things coming. What we know is that departments are looking at how they operate, and how they might be able to share services in order to improve things."
Mr Ryall also attacked Labour's plans to grow public servant numbers if it wins power, by restoring staff to back-office roles.
"If they were going to fill those 2500 positions, that would be costing $150 million a year, which is not money that the public service or the taxpayers can afford at this time," he said.
