Concern on Handling Of 'Conflict Of Interest' Case

PSA MEDIA RELEASE
July 20, 2007
For Immediate Use

PSA Concerned About Handling Of 'Conflict Of Interest' Case

The PSA remains concerned that people who have a relationship with someone who is politically active will find it difficult getting a job in the public service, despite a reassurance from the State Services Commissioner that this is not the case

The Commissioner, Mark Prebble, has today provided details of the case in which Madeleine Setchell lost her job as a head of communications at the Environment Ministry after three days. This was due to what was seen as a potential conflict of interest because her partner is the press secretary of National Party leader, John Key.

"The commissioner says it would be wrong to conclude anyone with political family connections is unwelcome in the public service. But I'm afraid I'm not reassured because of the way this case was handled," says Brenda Pilott, National Secretary of the PSA, which has 55,000 members working in the state sector.

The union agrees with Mr Prebble that appointments in the public service should be based on merit and that political loyalties should not normally be questioned. We also agree that the public service is politically neutral and any personal conflicts of interest that arise, concerning that issue, can be managed by the employer.

"The PSA's concern is that those principles were not applied in the Madeleine Setchell case," says Brenda Pilott.

The PSA believes it's inevitable that there will be people in the future applying for jobs in the public service, who have family members, or a partner, who is politically active. There will also be people currently employed in the public service who form a relationship with some who's involved in politics.

"It's essential that we are able to manage these situations," says Brenda Pilott.

"Otherwise we run the risk of excluding people, with the skills and knowledge the public service needs, because of a perceived conflict in their personal lives."

Brenda Pilott says the fact that the commissioner has enjoyed a long career in the public service, while his brother was the leader of a political party, proves that having a family member who's politically active is not a barrier to a career in the public service.

"We hope that this will continue to be the model for dealing with such perceived conflicts of interest, involving public servants, and that there won't be a repeat of the mishandling of the Madeleine Setchel case," says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS