December 21, 2011

Public service budget cuts now on doorstep of MPs

Public service cuts are now impacting directly on members of parliament and their ability to serve the public, says the PSA.

The budget which funds Parliament and MPs’ offices has been cut by three percent.

“Funding pressure could result in MPs hiring fewer support staff to assist constituents or in some provincial electoral offices closing. That raises serious questions about constituents’ access to their parliamentary representatives,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

Government budget cuts have also seen staff reductions within other important services that assist MPs to do their jobs as effectively as possible.

Cuts have resulted in the loss of security staff, two senior managment posts, as well as two librarian positions.

“Parliamentary Library staff provide MPs with everything from simple fact-checking to fairly in-depth research and analysis,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

“Their work contributes to the quality of debate and supports parliamentarians in holding the government of the day to account. In this respect they perform a vital public service on behalf of the electorate.

“These cuts will mount pressure on the remaining library staff. We’ve seen this happen in other public service departments and it’s simply not sustainable.

“It’s time the government considered the greater impact on the whole community of its short-sighted cuts to public services.

“In the long run, it’s the members of the public we are serving who are the biggest losers,” says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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