Politics live: ‘Unrealistic’ for government to think it would create more jobs than cut – Labour

It was unrealistic for the government to think it would create more jobs than it is cutting, Labour leader Chris Hipkins says.

Earlier this month, Finance Minister Nicola Willis said more roles would be established than scrapped, citing Treasury advice.

The most recent advice now shows around 4000 jobs are set to go – and the number of jobs created is still changing. RNZ’s tracking of announcements by ministries puts it at about 5000 so far.

Hipkins said it was smoke and mirrors.

“I think it was a pretty unrealistic commitment for her to have made in the first place. But also, let’s be very clear, this distinction that they’re making between back-office and front-line is completely farcical.”

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