More mergers?

Andrea Vance in the Dom Post reports:

Up to 65 jobs will go in a merger of agriculture and fisheries ministries and the Government is hinting more departments could be pushed together.

Workers at the Fisheries Ministry and Agriculture and Forestry Ministry were told of the move yesterday.

The Public Service Association said staff were told 65 jobs would go. They are likely to be in Wellington headquarters and regions where there are both MAF and Fisheries offices.

State Services Minister Tony Ryall said the merger would reduce “back-office bureaucracy” and save up to $10 million.

Good. Each seperate agency means the cost of a seperate IT system, a seperate HR Department, a seperate payroll system, a seperate CEO.

Speculation is rife that Treasury, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and State Services Commission may merge some functions. There are suggestions Culture and Heritage may join with Internal Affairs, which swallowed up Archives NZ and the National Library last year with the loss of 55 jobs.

I’ve said this before, but I think time is up on SSC.  Its reputation amongst the rest of the public service is not at all good, and many hold the view that it no longer adds value to the state sector.

I think one could combine SSC and DPMC together, and not only have significant cost savings but also improved performance. DPMC generally has an excellent reputation, and is well respected.

The other change which would be beneficial would be to combine all the small social policy ministrues into one Ministry of Social Policy. An MSP would have far more influence on Government decisions than all the small ministries such as Women’s Affairs.