PSA MEDIA RELEASE
February 25, 2009
For Immediate Use
Government cap on public service threatens public safety

“A call from judges for more security staff in our courts is further evidence of under staffing in the public service that the government must address,” says Public Service Association National Secretary Richard Wagstaff.

Judges are publicly backing a bid for more security officers in our courts. Chief High Court judge, Justice Tony Randerson, says if the Government does not provide more security staff public safety will be compromised and “a very serious incident is viewed as an inevitability.”

“The judges call for more security staff in our courts follows an Auditor-General report last week revealing that there’s a 10% shortage of probation officers,” says Richard Wagstaff.

“The reality is the demand for public services is growing and yet the government has declared that the number of public service staff and funding is to be permanently capped” says

The cap was spelled out by Finance Minister Bill English on Monday in the New Zealand Herald. He told government department chief executives that: "For the rest of their careers, there isn't going to be more money or more people.”

“The government cap on public service staffing is a recipe for disaster and in the case of our courts and our probation service threatens the safety of the public,” says Richard Wagstaff.

ENDS

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