Media Statement From The State Services Commissioner

The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, said today that the decision of the Employment Court in the Rankin case confirmed the broad principles upon which the Public Service management system operates.

"The decision confirms the principles upon which the State Services Commissioner acts as the 'employer' of Public Service chief executives, and the exercise of duties and obligations that the Commissioner has in that role.

"I have been confident that I have treated Mrs Rankin fairly, and discharged my statutory responsibilities properly. The judgment effectively confirms my view."

Mr Wintringham said: "In the last few weeks I have been impressed by the way in which frontline staff at the Department of Work and Income have conducted themselves despite the intense pressure that the case has bought. I commend the department for the way in which it has operated in this difficult period.

"Before the end of August, I expect to announce the name of the chief executive who will lead the new Ministry of Social Development from 1 October.

"At that point, the Ministry will be able to focus on its work of improving the lot of the most disadvantaged people in our community, without the pressure of constant public attention and sustained and intense media coverage.

"Finally, this matter will be behind us."

ENDS

© 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>>