English harpoons Joyce's bureaucratic white whale

Official documents released today show Finance Minister Bill English has serious concerns about his colleague Steven Joyce’s MoBIE white whale bureaucratic empire, says Labour’s Economic Development Spokesperson David Cunliffe.

In an official letter to Steven Joyce, Bill English politely harpooned the Budget documents submitted by the MoBIE Minister and ordered that a new four year operational plan be created for MoBIE in time for the next Budget.

Mr English demanded the following ‘areas where improvements could aid Ministerial decision making’:

• clearer prioritisation of existing programmes relative to any new budget initiatives

• more quantification and discussion of cost pressures, and

• greater discussion of how these cost pressures will be met.

“While Bill English may be a poor manager of the New Zealand economy, on this occasion I believe he is correct. The entire MoBIE due diligence process was a lightweight farce designed to legitimise a purely political decision. Merger costs have not been calculated and plans are not agreed.

“Many of the due diligence documents continue to be withheld. Bill English’s letter indicates why: the MoBIE business case was not even adequate for Steven Joyce’s ministerial colleagues, let alone for the public eye.

“When the merged department starts work next week there will be chaos and that will have flow-on effects in the wider economy.

“It is now clear that Steven Joyce is not a fit steward of public funds.

“The merger should be put on hold until a full inquiry into Mr Joyce’s analysis and justifications for it can be held,” David Cunliffe said.