8. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH (National—Rodney) Link to this
to the Minister of State Services
When was the Minister of State Services first briefed, formally or informally, on issues relating to allegations of unlawful decision-making involving the family of the head of the Immigration Service?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of State Services) Link to this
As I recall, the first mention I heard was when Minister Cosgrove advised his Cabinet colleagues in brief terms that the new Chief Executive of the Department of Labour had informed him on 14 December that there had been an independent investigation into employment matters under the previous chief executive.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question was very carefully worded. I did not ask the Minister when he was first briefed; I asked when the Minister of State Services was first briefed. The question was on notice, and the Minister has had some hours to obtain the answer to that question. I accept that he personally was not the Minister when this issue first arose within the State sector. My question specifically asked when the Minister of State Services was first briefed.
Madam SPEAKERI thought, actually, that the Minister addressed the question, but I can see how there could have been an ambiguity in the question. I ask the Minister whether he wishes to add anything more to his answer.
Gerry BrownleeThe member accuses me of being slippery; that is an attribute that attaches to the National Party, not this Government. I did read and answer the question. The member then posited the question with a different inference in that he asked whether the previous Minister of State Services had heard any earlier. I have just checked with the previous Minister of State Services, who said that she had not. I think that directly answers it.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Is the Minister satisfied that the Minister of State Services was not briefed in February 2007 on an issue as significant as potentially unlawful decision-making involving the head of the Immigration Service, given that the State Services Commissioner told the Finance and Expenditure Committee last week that the State Services Commission was aware of the issue as early as February 2007?
Of course, these are issues that we have asked the Auditor-General to look at, and the facts of who knew what when, and whether information was acted upon appropriately, will be determined by the Auditor-General in his inquiry.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Did the Minister of State Services discuss issues relating to an inquiry into unlawful decision-making involving the head of the Immigration Service with the Minister of Immigration in 2007; if so, when did those discussions take place, and what was said?
I am not in a position to answer that question, because I have not checked with the previous Minister. I can say that the first discussion I had, in respect of these suggestions, with the current Minister of Immigration was, from memory, around 21 April.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
Does the Minister agree with the State Services Commissioner, who told the Finance and Expenditure Committee last week that when he read the Oughton report he could see that it clearly did not relate only to employment matters; if so, what other matters were raised by the Oughton report?
As I said earlier, the facts of who knew what when, who should have known what when, what their responses were, and what their responses ought to have been will be considered and answered in the Auditor-General’s report.
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith Link to this
What exactly did the Minister mean when, at the Finance and Expenditure Committee last week, he questioned the lack of action in response to the Oughton report, and what action does he believe should have been taken immediately following the completion of the Oughton report?
My recollection, when I criticised the lack of action being taken within the State Services Commission, was the surprise that Ministers felt on learning that the issue relating to qualifications that had been raised with Mr Wintringham had gone no further, either within the State Services Commission or, certainly, from within the State Services Commission to Ministers at the time.