Paul Quinn puts PR ahead of jobs information

26 November 2009 Media Statement

Paul Quinn puts PR ahead of jobs information

National Party MP Paul Quinn is continuing to put his party politics ahead of the need for the community to be informed about issues involving Work and Income, Labour’s State Services spokesperson Grant Robertson said today.

“Mr Quinn has now decided that he will go ahead and host a seminar on the government’s Job Ops scheme himself. This is the worst of all outcomes. It is also strange as Mr Quinn has claimed that Work and Income approached him to host the seminar.”

“If he was genuinely interested in informing the community he would pull out of the public meeting and let Work and Income get on with their job. Instead he has decided that his ham-fisted attempts at PR are more important.”

“It is ridiculous that Mr Quinn apparently believes that he can educate the community about Work and Income programmes better than the department.

“We are still to see the results of the investigation from Ministry of Social Development Chief Executive Peter Hughes into the organisation of the seminar, but it is clear from his statements and those of State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie that this meeting was inappropriately organised.

“My purpose in raising this issue has been to ensure that the impartiality of the public service is maintained. I hope that Mr Hughes’ report will provide some clarity in this regard.

“The one thing that I do agree with Mr Paul Quinn on is this seminar has become ‘a bit of a circus’.

“This is entirely his responsibility. He should stand aside and let Work and Income talk with the Lower Hutt community, which is far more important than his attempts at self-promotion,” Grant Robertson said.

ENDS