NT public service to be cut by 300 staff

THE Northern Territory Government will cut 300 public service positions as part of a staffing cap that it wants to set at last year’s levels

THE Northern Territory Government will cut 300 public service positions as part of a staffing cap that it wants to set at last year’s levels, Treasurer Nicole Manison has announced

THE Northern Territory Government will cut 300 public service positions as part of a staffing cap that it wants to set at last year’s levels.

NT Treasurer Nicole Manison said the cuts would save $30 million by capping the number of public servants at the 2018 average staffing level of 21,118.

Ms Manison said plans, announced nearly a year ago to stop growth in public service numbers as part of $800 million in savings, had not worked.

NT NEWS EDITORIAL: CUTS DON’T GO FAR ENOUGH

She said the cuts would likely come via attrition but voluntary redundancies could also be considered and progress would be monitored on a monthly basis.

“Agencies must live within their means and setting a specific cap will ensure they do and help tackle expenditure growth,” she said.

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“Fixing the budget allows us to keep investing in job-creating projects, tackling crime and generational change.”

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Front line services including police, teachers and nurses will be exempt from the cap.

Prominent government and business figure John Langoulant is conducting a root-and-branch review of government spending and it was revealed late last year that without fiscal changes, NT’s net debt could soar to $35.7 billion in a decade.

More to come.