Untangling government key, but ACT’s ministerial cap needs to go further

ACT announced plans during their State of the Nation address to cap the number of ministers at twenty. Responding to this, Taxpayers’ Union spokesman James Ross said:

“New Zealand’s government is a jumbled mess, with no one knowing which bureaucrats report to which ministers at any given time. MBIE alone answers to 21 different ministerial portfolios.”

“Blurred lines of responsibility undermine accountability and play into the hands of a bureaucracy that puts far too little stock in democratic oversight. One minister per department is the key to putting control back in voters’ hands.”

“But why stop at twenty Cabinet members? There is strong evidence that once boards grow beyond around a dozen members, coordination and accountability start slipping fast. Cabinet is no different, and if ACT is serious about whipping government into shape its plans should cut further.”