Fran O'Sullivan: Clark needs a clean start to new term

Caretaker Prime Minister Helen Clark needs to exert a much tighter control over Cabinet appointments if her reign is not to continue to be contaminated by political sleaze.

Make no mistake about it, Clark will inevitably dump Pacific Islands' bright hope Taito Phillip Field irrespective of the outcome of a QC's inquiry into the Samoan tiler affair.

There is just too much doubt about Field's judgment for him to be given a sought-after Cabinet portfolio when the PM must also accommodate the ambitions of her other MPs and the Greens. Though the PM's knife will not be wielded publicly.

More importantly, Clark must send a sharp message to Maoridom's shining new political star, Shane Jones, that she will not countenance him double-dipping by holding on to his $70,000-a-year fisheries chairman job at the same time as he picks up an MP's salary. The Harvard-educated Jones - well-used to the hurly-burly of Maori politics - appears to have forgotten he is now playing in the public pool as he seeks to portray the Government-appointed role as an independent position.

There is plenty of ground for potential conflict between Te Ohu Kai Moana - the official name for the fisheries body - and the Government. Particularly if the Maori Party succeeds in re-running the foreshore and seabed issue.

Seen by some as potentially New Zealand's first Maori Prime Minister - a prospect Jones does nothing to discourage - the businessman-turned-MP is already being singled out for the Cabinet fast track. But adopting the situational politics that former Labour MP John Tamihere used to excuse concerns that he had been paid by Waipareira Trust after entering Parliament will not do in Jones' case. Tamihere was a known and likeable rogue politician. But much more is expected from Jones, who is already being talked about as an associate to Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia.

A coterie of high-profile Kiwi businessmen - including The Warehouse founder Stephen Tindall - is understood to have held talks months ago with the high-flyer to counsel him on how to build a political constituency for his planned rise to the top.

Jones has been astute enough to cultivate links with other influential businessmen such as Rob McLeod, a fellow trust director who has been appointed chairman of Aotearoa Fisheries, Rural Portfolio Investments deputy chairman Craig Norgate and long-time finance guru Keith Sutton, who is also on the AFL board.

But he will not rise fast if he does not ensure public perceptions match reality.

Clark cannot afford to shilly shally around on this one given the furore she fanned over National list MP Tim Groser's bid to stay on as chairman of the World Trade Organisation agriculture committee after he announced his intention to become an MP.

If she does not tell Jones to get into line, the National Party will have a field day once Parliament resumes by pointing out the rank hypocrisy given the Groser issue.

The PM can point out to Jones that she expects from him the same probity demonstrated by former Labour Party president Maryan Street - also elected as a Labour list MP - who has signalled her intention to stand down from the Crown Forests Rental Trust.

In Field's case, the MP faces allegations that he misused his position by asking Associate Immigration Minister Damien O'Connor to grant a work permit to a Thai overstayer who had tiled Field's house in Samoa while waiting for authorisation to re-enter New Zealand.

Clark has steered clear of making a judgment call until Queen's Counsel Noel Ingram finalises an investigation - originally due to be completed yesterday - into the nature of Field's relationship with Sunan Siriwan and his wife, and the extent of any involvement he may have had in applications for work permits for them.

Field's Labour colleagues - including fellow Pacific Islander Winnie Laban who wants to step up to a ministerial portfolio - will inevitably seek to capitalise on his position as Clark finalises her Cabinet.

But underlying the usual naked political ambitions is a more serious issue. The allegations against Field have snowballed since TVNZ reported the Siriwan affair. The larger issue now is whether Field's behaviour has simply been unwise, or whether it is potentially much worse and more rightly a matter for the police to address.

I'm not making any judgment call but I do have reservations about the Prime Minister's tendency to appoint Queen's Counsel to advise her on such affairs instead of a more robust public inquiry.