The saga of New Zealand Qualifications Authority former chief executive Douglas Blackmur is further evidence of the Government's inability to properly oversee its departments and agencies, Labour associate education spokesperson Steve Maharey said today.

Steve Maharey said the Government's hand-off approach to governing had created a culture of slackness within the public sector.

"There is the impression among some agencies and individuals that spending which the public would see as excessive, is acceptable and normal," Steve Maharey said.

"It is an attitude that has thrived under a National Government which refuses to take ownership of the public sector. Yet as elected representatives, that is what taxpayers expect of them.

"It was not good use of taxpayer funds to pay for Dr Blackmur to visit family in Brisbane nor would many New Zealanders regard business class travel as 'reasonably-priced' airfares. Nor do I regard membership of the exclusive Wellington Club as a necessary component of a chief executive's package.

"In fact the public has had enough of big spending among some senior public servants. A Labour Government will clearly set out the standards which we will expect of the public sector.

"The golden handshake Dr Blackmur received when he resigned early, typified the extraordinary perks he received while in the job. By asking nicely for the money back, Mr Bradford is just trying to look like the 'good cop' in a story that his Government has created," Steve Maharey said.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>