1. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her statement that one of the aims of her Government is “to restore public confidence in the political integrity of Parliament”; if so, does she believe that guarding the political neutrality of the public service is an important part of achieving of that aim?
Does the Prime Minister believe in the neutrality of the public service; if so, what is she actually doing to protect that neutrality?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I am upholding the status and position of the State Services Commissioner, his deputy, and the Ministry for the Environment chief executive, unlike Gerry Brownlee, who when asked a direct question this morning refused to guarantee their jobs in the unlikely event he will ever have any influence over that.
Darren HughesCan the Prime Minister tell the House why she made her initial statement about restoring public confidence in the political integrity of Parliament?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
There were quite a few reasons why I would have made that statement. For example, the Department of Work and Income, when under the leadership of Christine Rankin—now a prominent member of the National Party—wanted all of the public servants in that department to be declaring what their political affiliations were. Then there was also the example of Bill English saying that he openly meddled in the affairs of Crown health enterprises. I had Mr Nick Smith on the public record as trying to sack his chief executive, which was not his prerogative as a former Minister, and, finally, I think it worth mentioning in this context Murray McCully’s constant meddling in the affairs of the Tourism Board.
Why did a State Services Commission memo, released yesterday, propose that a formal register of political conflicts for public servants be set up for the Ministry for the Environment, and what purpose does the Prime Minister think that register would serve?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
That is entirely a matter for the State Services Commission to discuss with the Ministry for the Environment. But surely, the National Party is not saying there was no potential for a conflict of interest in this issue. It had to be managed.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Does the Prime Minister agree that the public and the business sector would have more confidence in the political integrity of Parliament if she were to convene a round table of parties to agree on a common approach to climate change policy that would endure beyond changes of Government?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It would be nice if there could be greater agreement on the best way to deal with these issues. I am afraid to say that although the Green Party has been very prepared to come and discuss such issues in an open, frank way and look for constructive solutions, our experience with the National Party has been for it to say out of one side of its mouth that it would like to do that and then to constantly attack the Government out of the other side.
Hon Damien O'Connor Link to this
Has she seen any other reports of chief executives’ positions being under threat for political reasons?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Indeed I have. During the National Party’s caucus in Gisborne earlier this year, and following a media stand-up conference, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Key, indicated that Barry Matthews, chief executive of corrections, faced the sack under a National Government. He is the great advocate of the neutrality of the Public Service.
Why on earth would the ministry be required to collect the information that will now be required under this potential register of conflicts for public servants if it is not intended to be used as a way of purging those who do not share the ideological values of the Labour Party?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
That is, of course, complete nonsense, and the State Services Commission would not propose any such thing.
What evidence does the Prime Minister have to support the view that such a witch-hunt as would no doubt result from that register is required not only of potential employees to the Public Service but also of those who are existing workers in the State Service?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is the duty of the State Services Commission and of chief executives to manage conflicts of interest. Those are employment matters, and I am not getting involved in them, unlike National in the past.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I did not ask the Prime Minister that question. I asked her what evidence she had to support the view that a register was required, and she did not give an answer on that.
Madam SPEAKERJeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
If she is trying to restore public confidence in the integrity of Parliament, why has her Government failed to put any limits on anonymous donations to political parties, so that the public could find out who is funding them?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
There is, of course, a requirement for disclosure in the Electoral Finance Bill of amounts over the level of $10,000, but it is quite clear that the absolute banning of anonymous donations would have to be accompanied by more public funding, because otherwise there are political parties, I would suggest, across the spectrum that would simply be unable to raise money. Until there can be a more mature debate on that issue, out of the inquiry into it that the Minister has announced, that matter cannot be progressed. I think what the member needs to put emphasis on is the proposal in the bill that applies what was previously the 3-month limit for spending across the whole year. That, of course, would greatly circumscribe the activities of the hollow men who sit opposite me.
Does the Prime Minister think that the creation of a register of potential conflicts of interest will assist in ensuring that the public sector can draw from people all across the community who may be able to add value to it through their skills, not through the association of their siblings or their partners with political interests; and, secondly, does the Prime Minister really think that if that register was in place many of the fine political pairings that are operational in the public sector would in fact be in place today?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The member should note that I most specifically have not endorsed the proposal. I have said it is a matter for the State Services Commission to work through with the Ministry for the Environment.
Sue KedgleyDoes she agree that New Zealanders’ confidence in Parliament would be enhanced if we were to pass legislation stipulating that key strategic monopoly assets such as airports remain in majority New Zealand control; if not, why not?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I cannot quite see the relationship between the two parts of the question.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Yesterday in Parliament when we were discussing the airport issue, the Rt Hon Winston Peters was given an extremely long bow and was able to ask questions—indeed of the Minister of Finance rather than the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues—on a huge variety of issues. I would have thought this question was relevant.
Yes, but the member will recall, I am sure, that I did actually point out that matter to the Rt Hon Winston Peters, just as I have done to you.
Is the Prime Minister backing away from the proposal to set up a formal register that would see existing State Service employees purged because she knows, first, that that would go to the core of the neutrality of the Public Service; second, that her union mates in the Public Service Association would not be happy about it; and, third, that many of the people who are currently working in the State sector would not actually have a job?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
One cannot back away from something that one has not endorsed. I believe that the biggest threat to the public sector right now is John Key’s threats about how many people should be sacked, which is a good reason why he will never be elected.
Peter BrownNoting some of those answers, does the Prime Minister agree that perhaps the best way of guarding the political neutrality of the Public Service is to ensure that potentially compromising situations do not occur and that, therefore, perhaps checking thoroughly into people’s personal backgrounds before they are appointed, particularly to senior positions, will best achieve that outcome—does she agree with that?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
My view is that the Public Service Code of Conduct and all the protocols and conventions that operate around that should be upheld by chief executives and the State Services Commission.