Govt defends public sector job cuts as redundancy costs rise

The Government's defending its record on cutting public servant numbers.

Official advice shows every thousand jobs cut,  would save the Government 103-million dollars a year in salaries.

But redundancy payouts would eat into those savings — averaging 52-thousand 500 dollars last year per worker.

Minister for Public Service Paul Goldsmith told Mike Hosking staff numbers haven't fallen substantially under this Government.

He says they've been hiring more correction officers for example, because more people are being put into prison - due to their focus on law and order.

LISTEN ABOVE