14 December 1999

RESIGNATION OF IRD COMMISSIONER GRAHAM HOLLAND

United New Zealand Party leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the decision by Graham Holland not to renew his contract as Commissioner of Inland Revenue is a matter of regret, although not altogether surprising in the circumstances.

“It will raise the spectre of another senior public servant being hounded from office by shallow political grandstanding, which is a sad reflection on the integrity of those involved.”

“I worked with Mr Holland both as Minister of Revenue and chair of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, and know him to be a man of the highest integrity, commitment and professionalism.”

“The recent report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee was certainly critical of many aspects of the culture and operations of the Inland Revenue Department, and I know Mr Holland would have taken many of these to heart.”

“However, the issues go far beyond one man, even if that man is the Commissioner, and our report recognised that.”

“It would be wrong to see Mr Holland’s departure as a justified sacrificial head, and any suggestion of that would be no more than despicable gloating by anyone gauche and stupid enough to make it.”

“However, it would be equally wrong to see Mr Holland’s departure as the end of the matter.”

“The issues confronting the Inland Revenue Department are extremely serious and ongoing, and the departure of the Commissioner will not change those.”

“What is vital now is that the new Commissioner be able to make a clean start, untainted by the past.”

“That means it is imperative that the new Commissioner be not drawn from the existing ranks of the Department, and a that a fresh external appointment be made to restore public confidence in IRD,” Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand’s Liberal Party

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