Firefighting front line not immune from cuts if ‘flabby’
Frontline fire services are “not necessarily immune” to the Government’s public service cost cuts – but would be a “last resort” – emails reveal.
It comes as questions surround cuts at the previously protected Oranga Tamariki, while more public service jobs and perks are slashed to meet the Government’s cost-saving targets.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has continually defended the move as targeting to wasteful spending and “backroom bloat” to ensure better delivery of frontline services.
In the emails, senior Fire and Emergency NZ (Fenz) officials questioned when or how news of Willis’ cost-saving targets, which went to all public service bosses last year, would reach them.
On December 21, deputy chief executive Bryan Dunne wrote he’d had a “chat with the person leading the savings work at Treasury”.
“Front line services are to be protected (but are not necessarily immune it [sic] they are clearly flabby etc – in my language) so think of it as last resort, unless clearly obvious that efficiencies can be gained without affecting services,” his email read.
The approach was to “put the burden on the department to find the nominated savings across the department and any agencies it monitors”, Dunne wrote.
Frontline services include firefighters, 111 emergency call centre, trainers, volunteer support officers and those working in risk reduction.
Fenz has been asked to clarify Dunne’s comment, but NZ Professional Firefighters Union secretary Joanne (Wattie) Watson said there was no flab in frontline services at all.
The union would fight any proposed cuts, she said. “There needs to be some serious investment in the frontline. We have a very old fleet of fire appliances that need to be replaced. We have staffing at 1980s levels.”
Fenz deputy chief executive, finance and business, Darryl Purdy confirmed they had been asked to look for savings or efficiencies.
No target had been set, but Willis had “conveyed the Government’s expectations around, for example, reducing reliance on contractors and consultants”.
Fenz is largely funded from levies, with the Government contributing $10 million a year.
Asked on Monday if he could guarantee the frontline of the public service will not be touched, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said “that’s right”.
“We want to protect the frontline, but think there is massive inefficiency across the public service. We think there is huge wastage we think there is also think back office functions with this huge list of contractors and consultants.”
Labour Party Internal Affairs spokesperson Lemauga Lydia Sosene said firefighters put their lives on the line every day.
“If the Government were to shave these frontline jobs in the name of tax cuts, it would be in complete disrespect to the life-saving services provided by our emergency professionals.”
Following the December emails, Fenz board chairperson Rebecca Keoghan was sent a letter from Internal Affairs Secretary Paul James outlining “fiscal objectives across the term and Budget 2024”.
“Strict financial management will be necessary to get the Government books back in order and ensure limited funds are directed towards the high value investments,” James wrote.
“I have been asked to write to you to ensure your Board is aware of this context and the steps being taken to address it. As part of the Government’s immediate actions, it will be making decisions to reduce public expenditure, including consultant and contractor expenditure.”
James said Crown entities were also expected to operate in a financially responsible manner and he would be grateful if Fenz could “work proactively to identify material savings”.