PSA MEDIA RELEASE
April 22, 2008

PSA Welcomes SSC Investigation

The PSA welcomes the investigation by the State Services Commissioner into how applications for residency in New Zealand by relatives of the head of the Immigration Service were handled by the Department of Labour.

Irregularities in how the applications were approved were discovered by a routine audit last year, two years after the applications were dealt with.

"We welcome the commissioner's investigation," says PSA National Secretary Brenda Pilott.

"This case has raised important questions about ethics and trust in the public service.''

"There are also questions about whether the Department of Labour management has handled the situation properly."

"We believe allowing these questions to linger will erode the public's trust in the service."

"We can't allow that situation to continue and we agree with the commissioner that it's appropriate that he investigate this case," says Brenda Pilott.

ENDS

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