Hon Roger Sowry
Opposition State Services Spokesperson

14 February 2000

Another Govt flip flop: another pointless inquiry

The Government's latest inquiry, this time into WINZ, will be another expensive exercise which will find little new, says National's State Services spokesman Roger Sowry.

"We are happy to support accountability in the public service, however, there are enough agencies of Government to look into the competence, or lack thereof, of Government departments.

"With this latest WINZ announcement, the Government is in danger of looking very silly on the whole issue.

"Before the election, Steve Maharey said that WINZ was a basket case, then he became Minister, meet with Christine Rankin and in less than two hours, he had decided that everything was fine. Now, in yet another U-turn, Mr Maharey's colleague Mr Mallard has decided that Mr Maharey's first instinct was correct after all.

"National is opposed to this charade because it is not necessary, and any issues regarding the operation of Government departments should be investigated by the SSC - that is their job."

Mr Sowry also called on the Government to declare how much Mr Hunn and anyone else involved in this review will be paid.

"The costs of these reviews are mounting up, and the Government has not even been in office for 100 days yet! " Mr Sowry said.

Ends

© Scoop Media