1. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her statement that State Services Commissioner Dr Mark Prebble and his deputy Iain Rennie “are absolutely fiercely independent people” who take “potential … conflict of interest very seriously”?
Why did it take the Prime Minister’s own department, the Solicitor-General, and her Minister of State Services to convince Dr Prebble to allow Don Hunn to be involved in the investigation into the Public Service actions into the recruitment and employment of Madeleine Setchell?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It was Thursday last week that the State Services Commissioner issued terms of reference. They were broad ones. He then took advice on who should assist with the inquiry.
Darren HughesHas the Prime Minister seen any other reports of different approaches that could be taken to this issue of determining judgment in the State Services Commissioner?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Yes, I have. I saw a statement made yesterday that said I should decide immediately whether I had confidence in Dr Prebble. I heard another statement made this morning that said I should await the outcome of the inquiry before stating an opinion. As usual, both statements came from the National Party.
Why is it acceptable for Dr Prebble to remain as the head of the investigation into actions in which he was involved?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The State Services Commissioner has a statutory responsibility for overseeing employment issues in the Public Service. However, the commissioner, given the breadth of the terms of reference, has asked Don Hunn to compile an independent report. Don Hunn will investigate the relevant facts of the Public Service’s recent handling of the recruitment and employment processes relating to Ms Setchell. His full report will be made public.
Is the Prime Minister unhappy with Mark Prebble in the same way that she expressed her unhappiness with Hugh Logan on the Agenda TV programme; if not, why is that, because they both seem to have committed the same offence?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is a mystery to me why Mr Logan did not repeat what he told Mr Prebble to Mr Rennie as the acting State Services Commissioner.
Why does the Prime Minister think the inquiry will effectively be in the hands of Don Hunn, when Dr Prebble’s letter appointing Mr Hunn makes it abundantly clear that Dr Prebble will be drawing the final conclusions in the report?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
As I said earlier, Dr Prebble has the statutory responsibility as the State Services Commissioner for the employment of chief executives. But what he has made clear is that the full report of Don Hunn will be issued, and it will be clear on what factual basis Dr Prebble then makes decisions.
When did she or her staff first become aware that David Benson-Pope had told Hugh Logan that he would be unable to be free and frank if Madeleine Setchell attended meetings in his office, and who provided her or her staff with that information?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I understand that Mr Rennie was advised of those comments by Mr Logan on Wednesday of last week. Mr Rennie then considered that sufficiently serious to ring the office of the Minister of State Services to advise. He then agreed that it would be appropriate for him to advise my office. My office was told, and I was briefed on Wednesday night by Mr Rennie. Sorry, folks, there is no mystery here.
Has the Prime Minister forgotten that she publicly declared that Mr Hurring had rung her office and told her of the information?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The member’s question I thought related to the free and frank comment. That I was made aware of last Wednesday by Mr Rennie.