25-01-2024, 06:11 PM
Perhaps not the best idea, with thrir budgets already set.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/24/nicola...5-million/
"Dean Knight, a professor of public law at Victoria University of Wellington, told Newsroom this was just as constitutionally concerning as the cuts for the Office of the Clerk.
“Again, the service has a key role supporting our parliamentarians with their democratic duties. Significant cuts to its funding will inevitably make it harder for MPs to do their jobs effectively, including their important work holding [executive government] to account and acting as electoral agents for the communities they represent,” he said.
“These parliamentary agencies have already been under fiscal pressure, especially as the fixed nature of the services they must provide leaves very little wriggle room – in contrast to government departments and flexible policy programmes. These slated cuts significantly exacerbate the problem.”
Otago University public law professor Andrew Geddis was similarly troubled. The funding for MPs’ offices and political parties’ staff is ring-fenced within the Parliamentary Service’s budget and already set for this term, he said.
“Allocations to MPs and parliamentary parties are already set (and ratchet up every year for the full term), meaning that they apparently will be insulated from the need to tighten their belts. Any savings will instead need to come from the actual running of Parliament as an institution, which raises the same concerns as relate to the Office of the Clerk.”
Willis said both agencies would have the opportunity to make their case to ministers about the impact of the budget cuts.
“Departments have been set targets and requested to report back with proposals to make savings. All departments, including the Office of the Clerk, will have the ability to set out their rationale for their proposals, as well as any risks and trade-offs including impacts on their role,” she told Newsroom.
“Ministers and Cabinet will make final decisions on whether to accept those proposals as part of Budget 2024. The Coalition Government is committed to getting Government expenditure under control.”
https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/01/24/nicola...5-million/
"Dean Knight, a professor of public law at Victoria University of Wellington, told Newsroom this was just as constitutionally concerning as the cuts for the Office of the Clerk.
“Again, the service has a key role supporting our parliamentarians with their democratic duties. Significant cuts to its funding will inevitably make it harder for MPs to do their jobs effectively, including their important work holding [executive government] to account and acting as electoral agents for the communities they represent,” he said.
“These parliamentary agencies have already been under fiscal pressure, especially as the fixed nature of the services they must provide leaves very little wriggle room – in contrast to government departments and flexible policy programmes. These slated cuts significantly exacerbate the problem.”
Otago University public law professor Andrew Geddis was similarly troubled. The funding for MPs’ offices and political parties’ staff is ring-fenced within the Parliamentary Service’s budget and already set for this term, he said.
“Allocations to MPs and parliamentary parties are already set (and ratchet up every year for the full term), meaning that they apparently will be insulated from the need to tighten their belts. Any savings will instead need to come from the actual running of Parliament as an institution, which raises the same concerns as relate to the Office of the Clerk.”
Willis said both agencies would have the opportunity to make their case to ministers about the impact of the budget cuts.
“Departments have been set targets and requested to report back with proposals to make savings. All departments, including the Office of the Clerk, will have the ability to set out their rationale for their proposals, as well as any risks and trade-offs including impacts on their role,” she told Newsroom.
“Ministers and Cabinet will make final decisions on whether to accept those proposals as part of Budget 2024. The Coalition Government is committed to getting Government expenditure under control.”
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)