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Govt bureaucracy needs 'political laxative' - Jones
The Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones
wants politicians to have more control over the state
sector, even though state sector workers must be politically
neutral and independent.
Mr Jones says new governments
should be able to appoint people to key roles and he will
take his ideas for change to his party conference later in
the year.
But the Public Service Association says it will
strongly oppose any moves to politicise the public
service.
He told Morning Report he had been astounded at how long it took for projects like infrastructure to be rolled out in the regions.
He said
bureaucratic culture was to blame and it needed a "political
laxative".
"It's time for a dose of reform at the very,
very top. Now it might be unsuccessful, but I will not be
deterred from taking this to our conference later in the
year.
"There's scope to look for different options to look for how, I as a politician can be more effective by tweaking the bureaucracy."
'I think it's a legitimate debate' - Shane Jones duration 8:17 - from Morning Report
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MP3 format.
He gave the Australian system as an example.
"The Aussie model,
where I was last year, enables a small group of CEOs at the
apex of the bureaucracy to be replaced after an
election.
"So the notion that we are going to have a dose
of Trump go through the bureaucracy - that's catastrophising
it somewhat."
But the head of the state sector union
warned the system could return to the days of cronyism and
corruption if politicians had more control over key
roles.
Public Service Association national secretary
Glenn Barclay said by law the sector must be politically
neutral.
"On one level he's a new cabinet minister and wants to get things done, so that doesn't surprise me, I suppose. But ultimately I'm disappointed because an independent public service is an absolutely essential part of our constitution and that's the way it should remain.
"You just end up getting the advice that you want, and it's very important that with any new policies, particularly substantial policies, that they are open to scrutiny."
'Free, frank and fearless advice cannot be underestimated' - Glenn Barclay duration 4:48 - from Morning Report
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download) in either
MP3 format.
Mr Barclay said the politically neutral state sector was enshrined in the Public Services Act of 1912.
Mr Jones acknowledged he had no control over the state sector, but wanted to pitch ideas for change to the New Zealand First conference later in the year, which he hoped would become party policy to campaign on in 2020.
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