6. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) Link to this
to the Minister of State Services
What are the terms of reference for the State Services Commission inquiry into the Ministry for the Environment’s employment of Labour Party activist Clare Curran, and will the inquiry investigate claims made by Erin Leigh that Ms Curran was “being employed to look after David Parker’s personal political agenda”?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Acting Minister of State Services) Link to this
The issues to be covered are those outlined in the State Services Commissioner’s letter of 21 November to the Leader of the Opposition. I am surprised that Mr Brownlee welcomed this inquiry yesterday at 3.13 p.m., but resiled from that position this morning before 7.30. National Party flip-flops generally take longer.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That was an interesting response from the Minister, but it very skilfully avoided the question that was asked, and surely that answer cannot be considered to address a question that asked whether the investigation will take account of Ms Leigh’s revelations, which did not come about until the TV3 news broadcast last evening?
Madam SPEAKERHas he seen the damning public statement by Erin Leigh that “the ministry didn’t have much choice about whether Clare Curran was coming to the ministry or not”, and does he think it was the Minister’s naivety that created such a climate of submission among senior executives at the Ministry for the Environment?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
I would rather rely on the robust inquiry run by the State Services Commissioner, and, in practice, by his deputy, to get to the truth of the matter. I would rely more on them to tell the truth than on someone who was not in the room at any time, I understand.
If Minister Parker did not insist on the appointment of Clare Curran, then why did the Ministry for the Environment phone Erin Leigh after she resigned over this matter to try to persuade her to stay and to explain to her why the Minister wanted Clare Curran in the ministry?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
Erin Leigh had repeated competence issues. She had to fix up the piece of work that she was employed to do six times after complaints from senior officials from a number of departments. As a result of that, someone had to come in and fix up the mess. Clare Curran was employed to do that.
If Miss Leigh was the person who, according to the Minister, had mucked up the “fart tax”, had caused the carbon tax to be dropped, and had caused the need for change, then why did they phone her after she resigned to explain why the Minister wanted Clare Curran there and ask her to come back?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
The last record of contact that the ministry had with Erin Leigh was when she came in, in an agitated state, for a quarter of an hour in order to clear out her desk. It is my understanding that the last non-physical contact was when she sent an invoice to the ministry for that quarter of an hour.
Did the Minister misunderstand my question? I did not ask when her last contact was with the ministry, I asked him this question: why did staff in the Minister’s office phone her after she left, ask her to come back, and say they wanted to explain why David Parker wanted Clare Curran in the ministry?
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I just want to clarify with the Minister whether he is denying that the Minister’s office phoned Erin Leigh, asked her to come back, and asked for an opportunity to explain why David Parker wanted Clare Curran appointed to the ministry.
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
Speaking to the point of order, Madam Speaker, I say to the member the question asked whether I misunderstood the question. I said “No”.
Does the Minister still wish to claim that New Zealand has a politically neutral public service when it is now evident that the Minister had insisted on Clare Curran being appointed in order to fix up and put a Labour spin on ministry documentation, and then, upon becoming worried about what the effect of that might be, attempted to explain to Erin Leigh why he insisted on the appointment of Clare Curran; and does that not indicate that we do not have a politically neutral public service, we have public servants whom Ministers want?
Hon TREVOR MALLARD Link to this
Ministers have the right to insist on competent advice. That has been established for a long period of time. When something comes to them six times and is criticised by officials not only from the Ministry for the Environment but also from other Government departments, I think that any reasonable chief executive would look for someone who could do the work. When there is someone available to try to fix up the mess who did climate change strategic work for the Australian Liberal Government, I can understand why the ministry employed her.