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The Beehive and Parliament - Source: ONE News -
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The National Party is being accused of acting in a hypocritical manner over its response to leaks of information contained in confidential Cabinet papers.
State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie announced on Thursday the commission had launched inquiries into the unauthorised release of government information relating to its stocktake of Crown minerals, and leaks relating to a Cabinet paper on proposed state service restructures.
Forest and Bird said during the week it had "learnt" the government wanted to allow mining on the West Coast's Paparoa National Park, Great Barrier Island and on the Coromandel Peninsula.
The previous week unofficial information emerged about the government's supposed plans to merge some public agencies.
The government has not denied the merger reports, and says any plans to open conservation land to mining are still being looked at.
State Services Minister Tony Ryall called for the investigation, but questions have been raised over why he is taking the situation so seriously when he was known to have used leaked material to National's political benefit while in opposition.
Labour's state services spokesman Grant Robertson has called the investigation was a "witch-hunt" and questioned why investigations don't include looking at how leaked details of the government's upcoming tax package were run in a Sunday paper at the weekend.
"Budget documents are considered very sensitive by governments and officials. Given this, it seems very strange that it is not included in the investigation," he said. "Perhaps the source of this leak is a little too close to home for the Government."
Robertson and fellow MP Annette King said the leaks at the centre of the current investigations are the result of frustration by public servants at the government's level of secrecy over what are important issues likely to impact on many people.
Robertson said a relationship of trust is important between ministers and public servants, but the issue here is that the government had been "attacking" the public service with resource and personnel cuts since it came into office.
Levels of respect between some public servants and their ministers may have broken down, he said.
King said Ryall's complaints are "a bit rich" considering his record of making use of leaked material.
Ryall said very few of those leaks had come from the public service, and when they did, they were investigated.
The latest issue is more significant than others as it involved significant Cabinet papers, he said.
Ryall said no conclusions should be drawn about the nature of the documents at the centre of the leaks, and that he had no strong views on who may be responsible.
Rennie said it is vital there is confidentiality around sensitive government information and the commission was giving the investigation high priority.
Forest and Bird is standing by its whistle blower for keeping the Government honest.
The State Services Commissioner has launched an investigation after someone leaked confidential information on the Government's controversial mining plans.
Other confidential proposals to merge some government departments have also been leaked in recent weeks.
Forest and Bird advocacy manager Kevin Hackwell hopes the mining plans will be now be dropped or downsized.
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Kevin Hackwell says the fact an investigation has been launched only goes to show the leaked information must be accurate.
