Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:643;Page:12930] 
4.  
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
 to the  
Minister of State Services 
: Has the State Services Commissioner completed the investigation into the Public Service recruitment and employment of Madeleine Setchell; if not when is the investigation expected to be completed and the report made public? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment) 
 on behalf of the  
Minister of State Services 
: No; soon and shortly afterwards. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Why 14 weeks after Dr Prebble commenced his investigation into this matter and said he expected it would take no more than 6 weeks is that report still not released? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The difference between when Dr Prebble said it would take 6-8 weeks and now is that the former State Services Commissioner Mr Don Hunn has been involved. Dr Prebble did not know that at the time he made the 6-week comment. I am advised that that was the case 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Yes he did. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well I was advised today that he did not know that at that stage and that that is the reason it has taken longer. We know that former State Services Commissioners are very thorough and take their time. Mr Hunn will produce I am sure a very thorough report because when people prepare these kinds of reports their reputations are at stake. There are some very important issues as to the quality of work done by Dr Prebble and the commission generally and I would prefer to have the answers done properly rather than quickly. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Can the Minister explain further the explanation he has just given as to why the investigation has taken so very long and can he rule out the suggestion that the length of time indicates a conflict between the report that Mr Hunn has produced and the willingness of Mr Prebble to accept his findings? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: As Dr Prebble has not yet received Mr Hunn’s report it could not be the latter. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: What confidence should the New Zealand public have in Dr Prebble and his report when both he and Mr Logan have previously demonstrated serious lapses of memory when it came to revealing details of their own knowledge and involvement in this matter when the Deputy State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie initially investigated all the issues? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The reason Mr Hunn is doing the investigation is that there were questions as to Dr Prebble’s involvement. He will make judgments on that and they will be released. In a similar way Dr Prebble as Mr Logan’s employer will be making judgments and they will be released at the appropriate time. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Is the Minister telling the House that there will be two separate reports and that in any event regardless of what Mr Hunn comes up with Dr Prebble remains part of the jury part of the defence and the judge in this particular case? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: As the employer of Mr Logan Dr Prebble is a judge. It is inappropriate for Dr Prebble to make judgments about himself and that is why Mr Hunn is doing a report and it will be released. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Does the Minister think that public servants should be managed out of their jobs because of potential perceived conflicts of interest? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It depends on whether those perceived conflicts of interest can be managed.