Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:641;Page:11044] 
8.  
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
 to the  
Minister of State Services 
: Did the State Services Commissioner Dr Mark Prebble meet his obligations under the no-surprises policy to inform his Minister in advance of circumstances likely to attract public interest or political comment in respect of the Ministry for the Environment’s disengagement of Ms Madeleine Setchell; if not why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of State Services) 
: 
 The State Services Commissioner has many obligations including providing leadership and guidance to the State Service in New Zealand. In order to meet his obligations he has convened an investigation under section 25 of the State Sector Act 1988. This investigation will establish the facts of the matter including how well the commissioner has met his obligations. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Is the House to understand from the Minister’s answer that the man who is responsible for ensuring that public servants adhere to the code of conduct did not tell her as soon as he became involved in giving advice to the chief executive about how to manage Ms Setchell’s possible conflict of interest which surely was a situation where the Minister needed to be fully aware of all the facts as soon as possible in order that she was not surprised by them? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No what I am saying is that the State Services Commissioner will enable the investigation that he has set up with Don Hunn examining the facts to conclude whether he did meet his obligations. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Has she asked Dr Prebble to explain why the first time she became aware of the employment situation was when the acting commissioner advised her in early July that he had met with the Leader of the Opposition’s chief of staff to discuss the matter when she now knows—and we now know—that Dr Prebble had been involved in the matter since May; and what was the date that she first became aware of Dr Prebble’s involvement? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: No. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Why not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: Because I will enable the investigation to get to the bottom of the facts so that rather than hearsay we will know what really were the facts of the matter rather than what people surmise them to be. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Did Dr Prebble tell Iain Rennie there was a significant employment issue being dealt with at the Ministry for the Environment—an issue involving the Minister’s office—prior to going on leave and Mr Rennie becoming acting State Services Commissioner; and has she asked him if he did not why he did not? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I am unable to answer that question because I do not know the answer. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Did Dr Prebble keep file notes of his discussions or interactions with Mr Hugh Logan on this matter; if so were these given to Iain Rennie when he was compiling his initial briefing that the Minister released on 20 July? 
Hon ANNETTE KING 
: I am unable to answer that question because I do not know whether Dr Prebble keeps file notes. That would need to be addressed to him and I am sure Mr Don Hunn will be getting all the information when he is looking at the facts of this matter in the investigation.