ACT proposes significant reductions in MBIE staffing and projects

by Angus Dreaver — 6 August 2023

The ACT plans to cut MBIE’s workforce and projects by halving more than 6,000 employees and halting some government projects, which could save more than $1 billion. These projects include Three Waters, Free Higher Education, Growth and Development Grants, Provincial Growth Fund, Auckland Light Urban Railway, Callaghan Innovation, Workforce Development Council, Industry Transformation Plan, RMA Reform, He Waka Eke Noa, “Just Transform” unit of MBIE, skills leadership team area, revenue assurance, fair compensation agreement, space policy, discounts in game development, major events fund, Te Ara Paerangi and Vision Mtauranga R&D funding groups, and monitoring sector support. Party leader David Seymour said new ministers would send out notices to executives, urging them to cut tools and redeploy people in jobs. Other shutdown notices include Department of Education curriculum updates and Let’s Get Wellington Move. The plan will also require an overview of all groups within ministries and departments, their activities, and their expenditures.

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