Grant Robertson
Labour Candidate for Wellington Central

Media Release

16 October 2008

Public should be wary of National's "Razor Gang"

The release of National's State Sector policy today confirms that public services are set to be slashed and public servants would lose their jobs under a National government, Grant Robertson, the Labour Candidate for Wellington Central said.

"National is proposing a Cabinet razor gang that will take the scalpel to our public services. They are making artificial distinctions between frontline and backroom staff, the only result of which will be job losses and a reduction in the quality of services for ordinary New Zealanders" Grant said.

The National policy paper released today only nominates justice, defence, education, health, Police and corrections as so-called 'frontline' services.

"This means that National has declared open season on people who protect our borders or our National Parks. Not to mention the people who run ACC or ensure that seniors get their superannuation entitlement. Once again they are devaluing the critical work that support staff and policy analysts do to support the delivery of high quality services for New Zealanders."

"National is making a shameful attempt to use public servants for short term political gain. They have dressed their policy up with empty rhetoric that says they will value public servants. A party that valued public servants would stop calling people 'bureaucrats' and undermining the good work they do. In Wellington Central National has been trying to sell the story that public servants will not lose their jobs, today's announcement makes a lie of this statement".

"Labour has invested in our public services. We must always strive to ensure that they are as efficient and effective as possible. We need to support public servants to be innovative, but this is not going to be achieved by a slash and burn mentality." Grant said.

ENDS

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