Ele Ludemann: A good start

A reshaping of the public service is being mooted:

A major reshape of the public service could be on the horizon.

The Post understands there is potential for a significant consolidation which could reduce the number of departments, ministries and departmental agencies.

The Post understands this was discussed during a Crown Entity board chairperson meeting with the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche this month and that a number of about 20 was mentioned. There are almost 40 Public Service departments and departmental agencies.

It appeared it could be a shift to merge or absorb into ministries, rather than disestablishment. Changes would need to go through Cabinet.

Roche would not confirm or deny the move, but said that all options are on the table, and his focus is on what agencies are delivering “effectively and efficiently”.

The Government is already considering a triple ministry merger between the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. And Roche has reportedly refused to rule out the Ministries for Women, Disabled People, Pacific Peoples being absorbed into larger ministries.. .

I’d add the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs to that list.

Who would miss the Ministry for Women if it was disbanded, or absorbed into another entity? Can anyone name anything positive that it is doing, or even anything it has done?

How can it be a women’s ministry when it has bought into the trans ideology which accepts that men can be women?

. . . Manatū Wāhine represents the interests of all women, including transgender women, and we recognise the right of all people to self-identify. . .

Representing the interests of men who say they’re women conflicts with representing the interests of women, undermining dignity and safety.

Even if the Ministry does know who is, and isn’t a woman, and that sex is immutable, we don’t need this ministry as a stand-alone entity, if at all.

The public service is too big, the web of responsibilities and reporting too complex, the cost and time and money in navigating it too high.

It is in need of radical surgery and absorbing some of these ministries based on identity into others would be a good start in the operation.

Ele Ludemann is a North Otago farmer and journalist, who blogs HERE - where this article was sourced.