29 February 2000

MALLARD SLURS ALL PUBLIC SERVICE CHIEF EXECUTIVES

State Services Minister Trevor Mallard has cast a slur upon the performance of all public service chief executives, says United New Zealand Party leader, Hon Peter Dunne.

Mr Dunne says that Mr Mallard's answers to Written Questions 2901 and 3044 show Mr Mallard will not express confidence in either the chief executives of each government department, or the State Services Commissioner.

"Mr Mallard's answers do make it clear - perhaps unwittingly - that there is one chief executive in whom he does not have confidence, but sadly he lacks the courage to name that person."

"As a consequence, he has cast a slur upon the performance and reputation of every single chief executive, as well as the State Services Commissioner."

"This is utterly intolerable, and places all chief executives in the impossible position of being unsure whether their employer has confidence in them."

"Mr Mallard needs to realise pretty quickly that as the Minister of State Services he is in a very responsible position, and is no longer expected to be the boorish loudmouth he was in Opposition, shooting his mouth off unthinkingly on every possible occasion," he says.

Mr Dunne says senior public servants have a right to know whether they enjoy the Minister's confidence, and Mr Mallard's failure to give them that assurance is an unacceptable attack on the integrity of each one of them.

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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