The National Times has word of further major cuts to the Public Service with Penny Wong wanting another $550 million in savings over four years on top of the swingeing 4% efficiency dividend.
She has some piddling ideas as to where savings can be made:
— Almost $30 million a year through across-the-board reductions in air-travel spending, including restrictions on business-class flights.
— Over $60 million in 2012-13 by cutting public servants’ reliance on external consultants and contractors.
— $2 million a year through advertising jobs online rather than in other media.
— Cutting printing costs by about 5 per cent by increasingly publishing online only, saving about $6 million a year.
That leaves a lot of bone and muscle to make up the numbers.
UPDATE 25/09/12 13:27: Penny Wong’s office has sent in her release: