When will the Public Service be trimmed?
Prime Minister James Marapes recent statement on the cost of running the Public Service has prompted us to reiterate again that PNG must learn to live within its means and not keep on borrowing every year that increases the countrys financial burden. The rhetoric about making the Public Service leaner and more effective must stop and real action taken if the Public Service, as the Prime Minister says, is chewing up half the countrys financial resources. This is a serious matter and we hope that the Prime Minister had a good reason for exposing the shocking statistics. We also remind the Prime Minister that over a year ago, he visited New Zealand and announced on his return New Zealands willingness to assist Papua New Guinea with its Public Service difficulties. We read that message as meaning that PNGs inability to make the Public Service leaner and effective would be addressed. Now it seems that we are not prepared to acknowledge that this is the case, and secondly, it seems that we do not know how to begin. These are strategic issues so we suggest the Government give it a serious thought and issue the necessary directions to be carried out. The Public Service is not taking the initiatives so an NEC direction is required to make things move. Watching from outside, we note that the line agencies are taking some critical steps. But these steps must lead toward a leaner Public Service and to make it effective. It is of no value if the Public Service continues to be the size it is while improvements are made because the whole focus is on cost reduction. The MPs vote their own salary increases. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission is there but why do we have lucrative contracts that are unreal if the performance does not warrant it. When contracts are affected in some way, there are millions paid out so clearly were using the Public Service for our own gain and not what it is intended to do. The Prime Ministers reminder on what the Public service means is honourable but is far from the truth. If he wants the Public service to be what it should be then a structural clean-up is required. We need a reform in the Public Service. The Government says one thing and does the complete opposite sometimes if we do not watch what the right hand is doing from the left. We create new organisations and functions and appoint more people forever increasing the countrys financial burden. There is the matter of recruitment which does not seem to be controlled. There are Government Departments and agencies that are duplicating roles; legislations that are not streamlined and departments that are not performing.