Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith speak to media after a pre-Budget announcement.

With less than a week until the Budget announcement, public service cuts of nearly 9000 jobs kicked off a political firestorm

Election year pressure is intensifying as the government defends deep public service cuts.

Nearly 9000 jobs are on the chopping block, and the political fallout has been quick and fierce.

Opposition parties warn that the scale of the move will impact and devastate thousands of families across the country, and shake confidence in the public sector.