10. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) Link to this
to the Minister of State Services
Does he stand by his statement in June that “If State servants don’t deliver services efficiently and effectively, people lose faith and trust in the State Services”?
Hon DAVID PARKERYes, they are big words—that is right. Are services being delivered efficiently and effectively, when in the last 5 years the amount of floor space leased to house bureaucrats in central Wellington has increased from 313,578 square metres to 445,915 square metres; and how is that 42 percent increase in occupied floor space of benefit to the taxpayer?
I cannot verify the exact figures that the member used, but I am happy to accept his word. Three areas of costs that I, as Minister, have been moving to control are building lease costs, advertising costs, and air travel costs. The Government is paying attention to these issues.
Darien FentonOf course, the big cost centre is, and always will be, wage costs—wage and salary costs. I have seen reports that John Key, Bill English, and Gerry Brownlee all say that National will not cut the number of public servants, yet we have National still talking about unaffordable tax cuts—tax cuts that would cost many billions of dollars on top of the amount that Labour is already committed to. If it is going to do that—
Hon Trevor MallardYou have got it, Mr Mallard—reckless borrowing and substantial increases in Government debt at a time of international turmoil. Some might expect that from a party of paper shufflers and speculators, but I, for one, think it would be disastrous for New Zealand.
How can people—[ Interruption] I am just waiting for the retiring member from Wanganui to finish. How can people have trust in Labour’s stewardship of the Public Service, when it is overseeing an increase in the amount of floor space leased to bureaucrats in central Wellington over the last 5 years that equates to an additional 13.2 hectares of office space?
No doubt the vast proportion of that increase relates to the increase in the number of public servants, which is at a lower rate than the increase in the labour force.
How can people have trust in Labour’s stewardship of the Public Service, when in the last 5 years it has chosen to create a 17 point difference—[ Interruption] I am doing well! In the last 5 years—[ Interruption] I know how they feel, Madam Speaker. It is their last day in those seats. It is like the end of a school year.
Madam SPEAKERIf the member keeps on chipping backwards and forwards, the question will go on forever, so just ask the question, please.
How can people have trust in Labour’s stewardship of the Public Service, when in the last 5 years it has chosen to create extra space for bureaucrats that is equal to the two new Auckland City hospitals, 27 new Sunderland Schools, or 1,470 State houses; and what are they doing in all that office space?
The country can be assured that if voters choose to return a Labour Government, we will prudently look after their money. We will not recklessly borrow to increase Government debt.
Has the Minister seen a report by Bayleys Research that states that the Government sector now occupies almost 40 percent of the total commercial space in the Wellington central business district; and does he agree with its analysis that the surge in floor uptake over the last 5 years involves quite staggering numbers, and serves only to illustrate how big the core bureaucracy in New Zealand has become?
Can the Minister confirm that the cost of leased office space in central Wellington now amounts to at least $106 million a year; and is not the growing of the bureaucracy simply driving up costs for the taxpayer, who has to pay for further space to contain them?
What I can confirm is that it was the last National Government flogging off the Government-owned premises that has now increased the cost of the rent paid by the taxpayers. If National got on the Treasury benches, it would flog off the remaining assets that are owned by the taxpayers.