PSA MEDIA RELEASE
October 16, 2008
For Immediate Use

New Zealand cannot afford to cut its public services

"National has chosen the worst possible time to slash our public services," says Public Service Association National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

"John Key wants to set up a razor gang to cut public service jobs at a time when the demand for the services they provide is going to increase because of the global financial crisis."

"Around the world people are turning to their governments and to the public sector to save them from the worst economic crisis since the 1930s."

"Here in New Zealand John Key's response to the crisis is to cut the public services that New Zealanders are going to need to get them through these difficult times."

"If people lose their jobs because of the crisis they will need support from public services to ensure they can feed their families and to try and get back into the workforce."

"Why on earth would you cut that support network that people rely on to get them through the tough times.''

"John Key is also wrong when he claims that New Zealand is not getting value for money from our public services."

"The fact is New Zealand's public service is smaller than Australia's and smaller than it was in 1990 despite the population increasing by 700,000 since then."

"The fact is our public service is small and efficient, benefits the economy and provides services that New Zealanders value."

"Despite these facts John Key continues to claim that we have a large state sector that needs cutting. He's wrong," says Brenda Pilott.

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