Witch hunts show government's shambolic handling to blame

The long awaited inquiries into leaking of government plans around mining of the conservation estate and the merger of government agencies have failed to find anyone responsible, and show that the Government's management of these issues was a total shambles, Labour State Services Spokesperson Grant Robertson says.

"I said in March when these inquiries were announced that the Government has only itself to blame for these leaks and that is borne out by the inquiry reports.

“National's mucking around with the release of the discussion paper on mining and its stop-start, secretive approach to government department mergers were major factors in information becoming available,” Grant Robertson said.

"In the case of the mining paper the arguments within Cabinet about just how much of the conservation estate National wanted to dig up saw papers written and then pulled out, and individual ministers pursuing their own agendas. It was a shambles, and the delays to the release of the discussion document heightened public interest into just what the government was up to. They simply should have fronted up earlier.

"In terms of the Government department mergers the inquiry report makes clear that the flawed and secretive process undertaken by the government was a major factor in information emerging.

“It says ‘the various delays throughout the process were instrumental in creating an information vacuum’. The secretive approach taken to the restructuring meant that staff at affected agencies were kept in the dark, despite being aware of the many meetings and discussions taking place. This creates, as the report says, an environment where rumour and speculation will become rife."

"The Government needs to be more up-front with staff and interested stakeholders when it is considering major changes such as these restructurings. There are some suggestions in the inquiry reports that are worth considering, but overall a more open and inclusive approach to government would avoid problems emerging."

"It’s interesting to note that public servants commented in the inquiry that they assumed the mining leak was one of those 'official leaks' designed to test public opinion. The Government is a serial leaker of information and rather than having wasted an enormous amount of time and money on these witch hunts, it should focus on being up front with New Zealanders about its plans," Grant Robertson said.