Politicising the Public Service

National’s Murray McCully says warnings from the State Services Commissioner about politicians in the public service should be taken seriously.

“They’re employing more advisers than any previous administration and now even the State Services Commissioner is raising the red flag,” says Mr McCully.

National’s State Services spokesman, says warnings over the potential politicisation of the State Service, as more and more public servants are replaced by political or “special” advisers to assist ministers, will not have been made lightly.

“We’ve been told there’s a real risk that the valued advice of senior civil servants could be lost as the Clark Government continues to appoint its mates to key roles,” Mr McCully says.

“Just last week we heard the Prime Minister’s Office was getting three more ‘advisers’ who’ve been employed to keep the Greens and United Future in check.”

“And that’s come soon after the establishment of the five-strong “Burns Unit” that has just one purpose - to put a positive spin on Labour initiatives.

Figures obtained by National show there’s been a 22% increase in Ministerial staff since Labour took office in 1999 and in the past three years the number of them earning more than $50,000 has increased by almost 25 per cent.

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