Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:13145] 
1. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
 to the  
Minister of State Services 
: Does the view expressed by the Minister of Agriculture that “the person who is in a vulnerable position will always have the bone pointed at them” indicate the Government’s thinking on the appointment process for senior positions in the Public Service? 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of State Services) 
: 
 Mr Anderton did nothing wrong. His comments were appropriate and showed the maturity and consideration that comes from his long experience. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Does he agree with the statement made by the Hon Jim Anderton to the Hunn review that in his view the role of communications advisers has developed to be very different from what it used to be because it increasingly involves communications strategy and sometimes highly political strategy; and can he explain exactly why the State sector has become involved in highly political strategy? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The very nature of politics is political. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: So the State sector is a division of the Labour Party? 
Gerry Brownlee 
: That is about the size of it. Has the Minister seen the quote of the acting communications manager in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry which states: “Madeleine has been upfront about her relationship which in my view should pose no obstacle to her being able to take up the contract position I am offering. However I am aware of some of the political sensitivities that may be present around this appointment and would ask should you think it appropriate you to raise this possible appointment with the Minister.”; and why does he think that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry felt so obliged to defer to the Minister on this particular employment issue? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The inquiry makes it clear that the chief executive did not defer to the Minister. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Then why did he ask the Minister whether it was OK to appoint her? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: He did not say that. Further criticisms are made by the reports that are soft criticisms of the chief executive of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry— 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: That well-known socialist. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: —“That well-known socialist.” as Dr Cullen said somewhat parenthetically—because although things were not perfect at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry they were not actually bad there. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Why did the State Services Commissioner have to tell Hugh Logan that increased emphasis on the environmental policy was not the same as close political management of the Minister’s political position and does the fact that Mr Logan failed to listen not indicate that Mr Prebble lacks the authority to rebuild and restore the political neutrality of the Public Service? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The inquiry speaks for itself in respect of that. I think the point that the inquiry makes and that we certainly agree with on this side of the House is that all people should be employed on their merits. They should be dealt with on their merits and that was the whole point of this inquiry. The inquiry showed that Madeleine Setchell had not been dealt with fairly. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: In the light of references to political appointments under this Government can the Minister confirm that the Deputy State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie—appointed by this Government and supported by this Government—is a former senior member of the National research unit? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I can indeed and that is to speak no ill of him at all. He is a well-regarded public servant; he was appointed on his merits. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Why does the Minister continue to express confidence in Dr Prebble when it is clear from the evidence in the Hunn report that the Public Service under his watch has been heavily politicised? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Because it has not. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Tena tatou katoa. What explanation can the Minister provide for the finding in the State Services Commission’s career progression and development survey that more Maori at 24 percent than non-Maori at 17 percent were likely to report they had been deterred from applying for a senior role because they perceived the selection process to be unfair? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is very wide of the original question but the Minister may wish to make a comment. 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: No I do not. I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I do not think that was within the realms of the substantive question. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is correct. The question was quite focused in its intent.