PSA On IRD Culture

Thursday, 17 June 1999, 4:07 pm
Press Release: Mediacom press release distribution

MEDIACOM-RELEASE-PSA

PSA Press Release

The culture and style of management at the Inland Revenue Department needs to be critically examined and fundamentally changed, the PSA said today.

The latest accusations against IRD staff reported in Parliament by ACT finance spokesman Rodney Hide were "further evidence that IRD management has imposed on staff a style and approach that is obviously a cause for real concern", PSA president Kathy Higgins said.

"But I cannot see the worth for the community in having these allegations drip fed to the public when the right forum for scrutiny of these things is the parliamentary committee inquiry.

"The last thing we need is a witch-hunt on individuals. That can only have the effect of further reducing the public's confidence in the worth of Inland Revenue," Ms Higgins said.

"Rodney Hyde and the ACT party may see this as desirable and want to draw out things for their political gain but his actions and approach are purely negative and bordering on the wilfully destructive," she said.

"The PSA knows exactly what the failings and limitations of management at IRD are. The point now should be all interested parties working together to bring about fundamental change for the better. That cannot be beyond dispute.

"It will be a further loss if IRD workers as a whole are simply blamed for the excesses and obvious limitations of their middle and senior management," Ms Higgins said.

ENDS....

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