NEW ZEALAND
Photo: Andy Jackson
The New Zealand Minister for Regional Development, Shane Jones (pictured) has said he would like to see the line between Government and the Public Service “softened”, with Ministers allowed to appoint top officials.
Mr Jones said the current Public Service system was “treacle-riddled”, slowing the process around funding economic projects, without evidence of improved efficiency.
“I’m looking forward to fighting an election to change the way that politicians relate to the bureaucracy,” Mr Jones said.
“I know we have this separation of governance and the bureaucracy, but I’m really attracted to the idea where the Aussies have softened that line, and key Ministers bring in their shit-kickers to get things done; that’s always been my preference.”
He said his comments were not Government policy and were “not consistent with the State Services Act”, but were ones he would like to campaign on in the future.
Among other things, the State Sector Act gives the State Services Commissioner the power over the appointment of Chief Executives, without influence from Parliament — at least in theory.
The Public Services Association warned in December that the influence of Ministerial advisors, which were appointed to serve only the interests of their Ministers, was undermining Public Service neutrality.
Mr Jones said he was not the only one who would like to see less bureaucracy in New Zealand.
“Meeting high governance and probity standards should not come at the expense of efficiency and pace, in my book,” Mr Jones said.
Executive Director of the Taxpayers’ Union, Jordan Williams called the comments “bizarre”.
“Shane Jones is suggesting we abandon our Westminster-style independent Public Service and adopt a corrupt American-style political appointment model,” Mr Williams said.
“It’s a recipe for instability, cronyism and poor governance.”
Wellington, 26 April 2018
