9. Question No. 9—State ServicesHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of State ServicesQuestion No. 9—State Services9. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of State Services: Does he have confidence in the State Services Commission investigation into statements made and actions taken by the Secretary to the Treasury?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of State Services): Yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Is the Treasury secretary's leadership and integrity going to be looked into as part of the inquiry?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The terms of reference for the investigation being undertaken by the Deputy State Services Commissioner have been released as have the terms of reference for the inquiry being undertaken separately to the State Services Commission. It's very clear what is being investigated. That is a matter of public record.Hon Paula Bennett: Are the calls and decisions the Treasury secretary made under pressure part of his leadership and as such is it appropriate for the State Services Commissioner to praise his Strong leadership and … integrity" last week?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The Secretary to the Treasury Mr Makhlouf has been in that job for eight years. He has helped Governments to deliver eight Budgets during that time. He's contributed to the rebuild of Christchurch following the Christchurch earthquake he was acknowledged for helping the Government to get the books back into surplus—those two latter achievements were under the tenure of the previous National Government. I think it would have been petty and churlish for him not to have been acknowledged for his contributions to the public of New Zealand.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Petty and ruthless.Hon Simon Bridges: Oh he'd know.Hon Paula Bennett: Does the State Services Commissioner choose his words—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Look I know there was a just-in-time interjection which caused the Leader of the Opposition to intervene but we have two of the most senior members of the House again causing disruption and it would be good if both of them stopped it.Hon Paula Bennett: Thank you Mr Speaker. Does the State Services Commissioner choose his words carefully when his agency is investigating serious issues involving a senior public servant and if so should he have said that Mr Makhlouf has brought strong leadership and a great deal of personal integrity and that he is authentic and straight up while in the middle of an inquiry being led by the said commissioner?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The inquiry is not being led by the said commissioner; it's being led by the Deputy State Services Commissioner who will report to the commissioner. I think it's important to reflect on what the State Services Commissioner actually said in his contribution when he made specific reference to the investigation in question which is to do with a specific set of actions by Mr Makhlouf not to do with his overall performance in the job and I think it's important to recognise that. The only reference the State Services Commissioner made to that matter was to acknowledge that it was a difficult time for Mr Makhlouf and his family and for those who worked for him and that he had approached the investigation openly honestly and professionally."