8. GORDON COPELAND (United Future) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she consider that the State Services Commissioner, Dr Mark Prebble, was right when he stated, in relation to his investigation into the leak of a Cabinet paper to Telecom, “I consider that Telecom is not to blame for its receipt of the document.”?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) Link to this
I have no basis for disagreement with Dr Prebble, but I note he has passed his report to the police for them to consider whether any further investigation or action is warranted.
Does the Prime Minister believe that the Cabinet paper given to Telecom by Michael Ryan was dishonestly taken and that Mr Peter Garty could easily have ascertained that to be the case, and that therefore because he decided both to retain and photocopy that paper he or the company could be open to prosecution for receiving papers dishonestly taken?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I can see the logic of the member’s statement in the question. I repeat: the matter has been sent to the police for them to form a judgment.
Hon Brian Donnelly Link to this
Does the Prime Minister believe that housing the locked bin for confidential material intended for shredding in the messengers’ room, where messengers keep their coats and bags, is the wisest location to prevent such documents from falling into the wrong hands; and has anything been done to relocate that bin?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has initiated an outside review of security within the department, and I look forward to the recommendations the reviewer will provide to him in order to see whether security can be improved.
Would the Prime Minister agree that in deciding to take the stolen Cabinet paper from Mr Ryan, thus triggering the need for the Government to announce its unbundling decision at 5 p.m. after news on the New Zealand Exchange had closed, it is likely that the value lost by Telecom’s shareholders is greater than it might have been had the decision been released as part of the Budget, as originally planned?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I have been of the view that it was the attitude of Telecom towards competitive measures of this kind that led to the value fall. In respect of Mr Garty’s actions, I think the issue will be whether they were criminal or just deeply unethical.