"The Prime Minister is demanding better public services but fails to provide a plan for achieving this apart from a regime of cost cutting and demands for public service staff to do more with less," says Public Service Association national secretary Brenda Pilott.

In his speech to Parliament this afternoon John Key says he wants "a stronger performance from government agencies" and to "lift the quality of public services." Mr Key demands "better public services" while stating that "most agencies will see no additional funding for several years."

"Mr Key's speech is full of statements about what he wants but there's no detail on how his demands will be achieved," says Brenda Pilott. "Public service staff also want to improve public services but they want some leadership from the Prime Minister."

"Simply telling public service staff they have to more with less is not a plan for lifting the quality of our public services."

"Mr Key says that New Zealand's wealth is generated by the private sector. He needs to recognise that the public sector provides the foundation on which a strong economy is built."

"The private sector relies on the infrastructure and services provided by the public sector to do business."

"Rather than seeing the public sector as a cost to be cut, Mr Key should be investing in the public sector to ensure the country has a solid platform to support economic growth," says Brenda Pilott.