PSA MEDIA RELEASE
October 8, 2008
For Immediate Use

PSA fears deep job cuts from National tax policy

The Public Service Association says it remains fearful the tax cuts announced by National leader John Key today will weaken public services throughout the country.

PSA National secretary Brenda Pilott says there’s no way to cut taxes as deeply as John Key wants without cutting jobs and services on which New Zealanders depend.

“Mr. Key is looking at cutting government revenue when we’re facing a global financial crisis. When the first point in his speech attacks public servants, it’s hard to see how people who deliver services when New Zealanders need them most won’t be hurt,” says Brenda Pilott.

“For families throughout New Zealand, this means fewer public services in their community and fewer jobs in their local economy as public service workers are laid off. Mr. Key might think KiwiSaver isn’t valuable, but 800,000 people who belong to it appreciate the work done by the public servants who make it work.”

“Already, we’ve heard plans to cut $500 million from public services. And endless rhetoric about public service growth, when in fact it’s grown smaller than the workforce as a whole,” says Brenda Pilott. “We remain concerned about deep job cuts after today’s speech.”

ENDS

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