No wonder the focus on 'Revenue Collection'

[wkid_one]

Almost 19,000 more staff have joined the Government's payroll, now 300,000 strong, since Labour came to power in 1999. This is expected to increase with more than $7 billion extra spending earmarked for the public service in last month's Budget.

National Party deputy finance spokesman John Key said he expected the state workforce to rise to a "bloated level" in the next five years. If Labour stayed in power there could be as many as 50,000 more government workers.

His research showed government worker numbers had risen by 40,000 since 1999, though State Services Commission numbers put the increase at 19,000.

[Quasievil]

thats alot of people, Geesh, who is left to do the work if everyone works for the Govt?
Not me Im to busy on here!!

[Cajun]

get back to work you slacker quasi

[Coldkiwi]

gee, i don't suppose any of those govt gophers would want to be nurses, teachers or something actually USEFUL would they?

[sAsLEX]

and with all the extra benifits available there is hardly a reason too work

[James Deuce]

gee, i don't suppose any of those govt gophers would want to be nurses, teachers or something actually USEFUL would they?

Of course not. For degreed people the pay is abysmal. Also the risks involved in being male in either teaching or nursing make it completely innappropriate for men to apply for these jobs at the moment. For some reason because these roles are peopled largely by women we seem to undervalue them hugely. Why become a nurse when you could become a policeman/woman and start on 40% more pay with a similar shift rotation and exposure to similarly lethal risks?

[sAsLEX]

But being paid while obtaining a degree cant be too bad! as well as some other perk that come with certain jobs within the Govt

[MikeL]

But being paid while obtaining a degree cant be too bad! as well as some other perk that come with certain jobs within the Govt

What? AFAIK only the armed forces still pay your tertiary fees. It certainly doesn't apply to teacher trainees now. Don't know about police...

And what perks?

[Two Smoker]

What? AFAIK only the armed forces still pay your tertiary fees. It certainly doesn't apply to teacher trainees now. Don't know about police...

And what perks?

No police dont get their fees paid, but you can apply for paid leave for study (full time), so you get paid to study, but that is hard to get into......

[sAsLEX]

defence is still govt MikeL, and there is some perks such as cheap accomadation unlimited sick leave, free dental and medical etc

[Ms Piggy]

and with all the extra benifits available there is hardly a reason too work

Are you meaning for Govt Dept employees? What benefits are those then? I worked for (and still do part-time) a Govt Dept and didn't really see any benefits - if anything they're more bereaucratic (sp?).

[sAsLEX]

the ones that came out in the budget, and yet no top level tax break or company tax break!

[spudchucka]

What? AFAIK only the armed forces still pay your tertiary fees. It certainly doesn't apply to teacher trainees now. Don't know about police...

And what perks?

While training at the police college for 19 weeks recruits earn around $27000. On graduation they go up to around $43000, (roughly - I don't actually know for sure what the starting salary is these days but it is around that figure).

[spudchucka]

No police dont get their fees paid, but you can apply for paid leave for study (full time), so you get paid to study, but that is hard to get into......

Police pay for any compulsary study such as the two Vic Uni papers that are compulsory for probationary constables. Any further study that is required for promotion is reimbursed when you pass the paper.