The NSW Nationals are calling on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on the true extent of its cuts to Service NSW and to rethink the sacking of more than 200 frontline staff.
Labor has lost control of the state’s Budget and is now slashing one of the most successful government agencies in the country.
Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said Service NSW was an example of well-delivered essential services our local community relies on, but Premier Chris Minns is ripping millions in annual funding and sacking hardworking staff.
“Service NSW was the gold standard in customer service under the former Nationals Government, but now it’s being gutted by short-sighted Budget cuts. This is a betrayal of the trust that people have placed in the government, and a destruction of an important service for our community,” Mr Singh said.
According to leaked Service NSW documents, the agency will be subject to more than $100 million of annual cuts:
• Digital Services will receive a $34 million cut, equating to a 26% reduction in funding.
• Disaster Preparation and Recovery will receive a $9.2 million cut, equating to a 64% reduction in funding.
• Partnerships and Projects will receive a $13.5 million cut, equating to a 56% reduction in funding.
• Service NSW Business will receive an $11.7 million cut, equating to a 31% reduction in funding.
• Risk, Strategy and Customer Support will receive a $7.4 million cut, equating to a 25% reduction in funding.
The previous Nationals Government set up and rolled out Service NSW which was acknowledged by other state and territory governments as among the best service delivery agencies in Australia.