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Downsizing Government: ACT Leader explains why departments need to be cut

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Sun, 28 Jun 2026, 3:29pm
Photo / Mark Mitchell
Photo / Mark Mitchell

ACT has announced its plans to radically downsize Government departments, and bring fairness back into our benefit-system.

Firstly: They're making medical certification for health-related benefits mandatory, and only issued by MSD-approved doctors with objective criteria rather than a leaving it to a GP's discretion.

Secondly: Those on the Jobseeker benefit for more than four months will be given an electronic payment card that's only designated for essentials like groceries and rent.

Lastly: They want to cut the 43 Government departments into 19, and drop the number of portfolio ministers from 28 to 18.
 
ACT Party Leader David Seymour joins the Weekend Collective to unpack the party's ambitions.

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