The Government has announced an ambitious set of 10 targets it expects the public service to achieve over the next five years.
The announcement comes on the eve of asset sales legislation passing through its final stage. Labour says it's a well planned distraction.
Prime Minister John Key says the targets are not a wish-list.
"They are a to-do list," he said today.
"We want to get further traction on difficult issues like reducing crime, reducing long-term welfare dependency and reducing educational under-achievement."
Expect bonuses for achievement, and pay cuts if not.
Mr Key says some of the targets will be "extremely difficult" to achieve and will stretch the ability of the public service.
"But I make no apology for having high expectations and wanting New Zealanders to get the most out of their public services."
Finance Minister Bill English says the Government wants to change the way the public sector works so it is more focused and organised around delivering results.
"We're making the public sector leaders accountable for achieving things that make a real difference to the lives of New Zealanders, not just managing a department or agency," he said.
"This is a fundamental shift that requires different thinking."
Some of the targets have been previously announced, and provide the detail that lies underneath the 10 "challenging results" the Government set out earlier this year.
The main targets include:
- Reducing the number of people on a working-age benefit for more than 12 months by more than 20,000 - or 30 percent - from 78,000 to 55,000
- Raising participation in early childhood education from the current 94.7 percent to 98 percent
- Halting the rise in child abuse and bringing it down by 5 percent
- Reducing the crime rate by 15 percent, which means 45,000 fewer crimes a year.
Since National came to power, more than 2500 public service jobs have been cut.
Watch the video for political reporter Tova O'Brien's report.
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