David Carter MP National Party Agriculture Spokesman

6 January 2008

967% increase in MAF staff earning $100k

Figures released by National's Agriculture spokesman, David Carter, show the number of MAF staff earning more than $100,000 has risen by an astonishing 967% under Labour.

"There are 160 MAF staff in that category compared to just 15 when Labour came to power.

"On top of that, the number of bureaucrats at the Ministry has skyrocketed under Labour's watch.

"Staff numbers have ballooned by 65% since 1999, while the total wage bill has increased by almost 50% over the same period.

"These figures prove beyond all doubt that Labour and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton are responsible for fattening the layers of bureaucracy at MAF.

"It will come as a surprise to no one that, despite these extra pen-pushers, MAF has still managed to gain the unenviable title of the government department with the biggest drop in KPMG's 2007 'Helpfulness of Government Agencies' ranking.

"Jim Anderton would do better to put a halt to the ever-increasing army of bureaucrats at his Ministry and get on with solving the problems facing the sector."

ENDS

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