22 JUNE 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Responding to the Government’s decision to ditch the cap on public servants due to high spending on consultants, New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says:

“The half-billion dollar spend on contractors is the result of National’s superficial approach to limiting bureaucracy. National announced an arbitrary quota and fiddled with staffing arrangements when they should have been scrapping entire departments.”

“For years it’s been no secret in Wellington that government departments throw huge money at contractors. It’s the type of gravy train a centre-right government should have hammered.”

“By replacing contractors with salaried employees, Labour should be delivering savings to taxpayers. Unfortunately, Minister Hipkins has confirmed the savings will instead be used to expand the public service further. There are no heroes for taxpayers in this story.”

ENDS

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