A former finance minister says there's growing public appetite for more public sector restraint

The Government's ruling out giving most departments any additional funding in next month's Budget, as it now works to get back in the black by 2029.

Steven Joyce says reaching that target will depend, a lot, on the international economy.

But he says there are still lots of changes that can be made to bring down government spending.

Joyce says making those changes requires a bit of work, and requires ministers having a good political radar and knowing what can't be cut.