GERRY BROWNLEE (National-Ilam) to the Minister of Justice: Investigation into the engagement of Clare Curran
GERRY BROWNLEE (National-Ilam) to the Minister of Justice: When will the State Services Commission publicly release its investigation into the engagement of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice): When the report is completed.
Gerry Brownlee: Has the Minister seen a draft of the report; if so, does it detail evidence from the Hon David Parker and from the former Minister David Benson-Pope; if not, why not?
Hon ANNETTE KING: No, I have not seen a draft of the report.
Gerry Brownlee: Is the Minister aware of whether the State Services Commission has heard evidence from Heather Simpson, or any other ministerial staff, to determine the role of the Labour Government in the appointment of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment; if not, why not?
Hon ANNETTE KING: No.
Gerry Brownlee: Is it true that the Labour Government has required that this report is not released while the House is sitting and is determined to have this report released right under the eve of Christmas in order to avoid the sort of scrutiny that it should come under?
Hon ANNETTE KING: No, and I quote back to the member his own comments he made on Radio Live on 5 December: "We expect a factual document to get right to the heart of it, and I think we have got to give Mr Rennie and those who are putting the report together a bit of space." That is what they have got. We have not seen the report. The Government has not received it, and we have not had input into it in the way the member is implying.
Gerry Brownlee: Does it concern the Minister that at the time I made my statements Mr Rennie had been on the job for quite some time, and, in fact, had indicated that this would be a report that took perhaps 2 or 3 weeks, but it is now well over that time, and it therefore looks very much as though this Government has decided that this report will not see the light of day while there is likely to be severe scrutiny of it?
Hon ANNETTE KING: No. The terms of reference for this inquiry were released by the State Services Commission just over 3 weeks ago on 23 November. I am told there are a number of people who needed to be interviewed, and the State Services Commission wanted time to interview, and complete the report-
Gerry Brownlee: You're hiding it!
Hon ANNETTE KING: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take great exception to that interjection from the member. It goes right to the heart of my integrity.
Madam SPEAKER: Is the member asking for the member to withdraw that?
Hon ANNETTE KING: I certainly am asking him to withdraw and apologise.
Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise.
ENDS
GERRY BROWNLEE (National-Ilam) to the Minister of Justice: When will the State Services Commission publicly release its investigation into the engagement of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment? Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice): When the report is completed. Gerry Brownlee: Has the Minister seen a draft of the report; if so, does it detail evidence from the Hon David Parker and from the former Minister David Benson-Pope; if not, why not? Hon ANNETTE KING: No, I have not seen a draft of the report. Gerry Brownlee: Is the Minister aware of whether the State Services Commission has heard evidence from Heather Simpson, or any other ministerial staff, to determine the role of the Labour Government in the appointment of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment; if not, why not? Hon ANNETTE KING: No. Gerry Brownlee: Is it true that the Labour Government has required that this report is not released while the House is sitting and is determined to have this report released right under the eve of Christmas in order to avoid the sort of scrutiny that it should come under? Hon ANNETTE KING: No, and I quote back to the member his own comments he made on Radio Live on 5 December: "We expect a factual document to get right to the heart of it, and I think we have got to give Mr Rennie and those who are putting the report together a bit of space." That is what they have got. We have not seen the report. The Government has not received it, and we have not had input into it in the way the member is implying. Gerry Brownlee: Does it concern the Minister that at the time I made my statements Mr Rennie had been on the job for quite some time, and, in fact, had indicated that this would be a report that took perhaps 2 or 3 weeks, but it is now well over that time, and it therefore looks very much as though this Government has decided that this report will not see the light of day while there is likely to be severe scrutiny of it? Hon ANNETTE KING: No. The terms of reference for this inquiry were released by the State Services Commission just over 3 weeks ago on 23 November. I am told there are a number of people who needed to be interviewed, and the State Services Commission wanted time to interview, and complete the report- Gerry Brownlee: You're hiding it! Hon ANNETTE KING: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take great exception to that interjection from the member. It goes right to the heart of my integrity. Madam SPEAKER: Is the member asking for the member to withdraw that? Hon ANNETTE KING: I certainly am asking him to withdraw and apologise. Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise. ENDS
