PM announces reform of overspending dept

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By Gynnie Kero
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced a reform for the public service, saying the sector continues to overspend by more than K300 million a year.
Addressing the business community in Port Moresby yesterday, O’Neill said: “We are going to have a large reform in the public service structure. Public Service continues to overspend over K300 million a year on maintaining a public service structure in our country.
“This sort of expenditure is unsustainable for Papua New Guinea.
“That is why a large reform package will be set up where it will mean we will streamline some of the departments so that they can perform better with other departments that are related and, we will want them to be bit more efficient, quality-driven. That would mean we may have to retrench some of our people into sectors where they are needed most.
“We are open to consultation during the reforms.
“Business and government need to work together for better outcomes.
“Our government is proud to have the mandate to continue driving positive change.
“We are grateful for the support given by our people to continue our core policy agenda.
“We are also grateful for the support of the business community for our government.
“We will again be a business-friendly government and consult with all stakeholders.”