Won’t somebody please think of the public servants? It’s not easy, you know, pulling in a paltry hundred grand a year, working flexi time, and gorging yourself stupid in Lambton Quay. (Just like Canberra and Hobart, it’s conspicuous just how many fancy cafes and bars tend to cluster around the workplaces of the taxpayer-funded.)
So, take pity on the poor dears as they’re asked to endure all manner of horrors in the name of cost-cutting.
For some agencies, cutting costs means cutting jobs. For many it’s an “unsettling” and “challenging” time as staff wait to hear just how deep the cuts will go.
If things get really bad, they might even have to work.
If there was one positive to say about Kevin Rudd, it’s that he had a singular dedication to work. To the horror of Canberra’s public service, he expected something similar from them. During Rudd’s first term, public servants clutched their hankies as they posted on social media that they were crying in the shower at the terrifying prospect of not just working overtime, but weekends. Weekends!
Staying with friends when travelling for work and bringing your own plate of food to staff meetings are some of the ways staff at the Ministry of Transport have suggested costs can be cut.
Don’t tell them they don’t know what ‘Nam was like.
Brace yourselves: readers are advised that distressing revelations follow. Children and pregnant women are advised to look away.
At Statistics New Zealand, which has “unsustainably” high staffing levels and a forecast budget overspend of about $10.4 million, staff are being asked to consider sharing office spaces and to consider the “need to travel”.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice’s 4641 staff were told that when roles became vacant, the ministry would be “having a good rethink” about whether the position needed to be replaced.
I mean, c’mon, they’re doing the work of half a person already!
That’s nothing, compared to the mediaeval cruelty inflicted on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (6396 staff, $104.4 million spent on contractors and consultants).
Before the election, MBIE staff were reminded of the importance of political neutrality. As far back as July staff were directed not to provide MBIE contact details to political parties, not to wear T-shirts with political party branding at the office, and to not use MBIE printers to print off party material.
Yes: they actually had to be told how to do their jobs properly, and not be political activists on the taxpayer’s dime.
Staff were also told MBIE’s end-of-year function would not be funded.
At this rate, they’ll have to make do with a couple of stubbies and a bag of chips, like the rest of us plebs.
Then there’s just one of the endless Maori boondoggles, “Te Puni Kokiri” (Ministry of Maori Development).
An official ministry newsletter from the end of September, from Tokohau Samuels, detailed immediate changes would be taking place around “financial delegations, travel, vehicle use, contractor spend, tighter recruitment decisions and remuneration”. Staff were informed the ministry would likely need to find further cost savings beyond what was already outlined.
In the same update, the Maori Development secretary told staff change could be “unsettling” for some.
NZ Herald
True, taxpayer-funded oinkers do tend to get “unsettled” when the trough is taken away.
Just imagine if these precious petals had to deal with a real small-government cost-cutter, like Javier Milei.
We can only dream.
