Wellington, June 3 NZPA - Labour MP Grant Robertson failed to extract an apology from ACC Minister Nick Smith in Parliament today over his public gaffe about redundancies.

Wellington, May 31 NZPA - A Treasury official has described the Government's decision to postpone payments to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund as a fraud which would cost $8 billion.

Wellington, May 14 NZPA - Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) staff were today told which of them would lose their job. Chief executive Roy Sharp had earlier announced 70 jobs would be cut, allowing TEC to take a "lighter-hand" in the sector.

Wellington, May 14 NZPA - Job cuts at the Ministry of Social Development mean fewer staff for a ministry facing an increased workload, the Labour Party says. The structural change announced earlier in the week will see up to 200 people lose their jobs -- saving $22 million a year.

Wellington, May 13 NZPA - The prospect of up to 200 redundancies at the Ministry of Social Development has given Labour another opportunity to accuse the Government going on a slash and burn binge.

Wellington, May 12 NZPA - Up to 200 people face redundancy at the Ministry of Social Development in a restructure announced today.

Wellington, May 12 NZPA - A "redeployment pool" of redundant public servants will be established to retain and redistribute talent, State Services Minister Tony Ryall announced today.

Wellington, May 5 NZPA - The Government has capped the spending on contracted purchase advisers at $410,000, Finance Minister Bill English said today.

Wellington, May 4 NZPA - Using private advisors is no different from using Treasury staff to give ministers spending advice, Prime Minister John Key says.

NZPA political reporters Wellington, May 1 NZPA - The Government is being accused of breaching political neutrality, and possibly the State Sector Act, by ordering departments to hire ministerial advisors.