The toll in lives lost will only rise further
The opening of the books today shows the Government is determined to keep making brutal cuts to public services which will cost lives.
"This reckless drive to cut costs shows the Government is prepared to put dollars ahead of the lives of New Zealanders," said Fleur Fitzsimons, acting National Secretary of the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
"International evidence proves austerity costs lives."
Research by Glasgow University shows people dying younger and the poorest areas of the UK being the hardest hit. An additional 335,000 deaths were observed across Scotland, England & Wales between 2012 and 2019 during a time of deep cuts to public spending by the Conservative Government. [1]
"This Government is heading down the same path, decimating Oranga Tamariki, the Ministry of Health, Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment, the Ministry for Social Development and the Department of Conservation.
"These agencies have suffered deep cuts that will mean they can’t do their job properly and all New Zealanders will suffer. The impacts of these cuts will be investigated and uncovered by coroners, Ministerial Inquiries and Royal Commissions in the future as we chart back why accidents happened and services were not able to fulfil their role.
"History and now fresh evidence tell us that austerity doesn’t work, but the Government is failing to listen. Today in the Budget Policy Statement it set the stage for further deep and broad cuts which will impact the services New Zealanders need now and in the future.
"Public service workers and the valuable work they do are being sacrificed for this irresponsible obsession. The Government must re-think its approach."
ENDS
Background
The Budget Policy Statement today stated that "savings will need to be found, beyond those already identified in the previous Budget. And third, with a small number of exceptions, government departments should expect to receive no additional funding in the Budget".
Public service job losses and cuts to date include:
- Over 400 staff at Oranga Tamariki and deep funding cuts for community providers like Family Start and the Salvation Army supporting families and children at risk.
- Risks to patient health from the near halving of specialist IT staff at hospitals.
- Over 700 staff who ensure our social security system supports those who need help like families doing it tough and the elderly.
- The gutting of Kāinga Ora which has led a successful social housing build programme.
- Around 500 scientists and researchers who are dealing with climate change and helping build a more innovative and productive economy.
- The restructure of hazard watching GeoNet service which helps New Zealand prepare for life-threatening natural hazards like volcanoes and earthquakes.
- The loss of digital harm specialists at the Department of Internal Affairs who keep the internet safe from those who want to harm children.
[1] Bearing the burden of austerity: how do changing mortality rates in the UK compare between men and women? Glasgow University, October 2022
ENDS
