Pay rises replace bonuses at Environment Ministry
The National Party is questioning an Environment Ministry move to replace staff bonuses with a $4,000 salary increase
for all staff members.
Details of the plan, which took effect on January 1, have been released by National’s State Services spokesman Murray
McCully.
The move’s flagged in a leaked memorandum from the Ministry’s chief executive, Barry Carbon.
Mr McCully says he has serious concerns about the salary top up as a replacement for bonuses.
“Bonuses are a means of rewarding excellent performance - a means of distinguishing between those who have done an
ordinary job and those who have done an excellent job.
“Now the Ministry will have no incentive for excellence,” Mr McCully says.
“A $4,000 salary increase equates to a 12% increase for an analyst or advisor.
“That level of increase is well out of line with other state sector movements.
“The nation’s nurses and teachers have been told they must settle for much less, they’ll no doubt take a powerful
message from the Ministry for the Environment’s decision.