Commission rejects blogger's claims

Cameron Slater was in contact with Judith Collins. Photo / APN

Blogger Cameron Slater claimed on more than one occasion that his friend and former Cabinet minister Judith Collins was out to have the Serious Fraud Office director sacked, according to a new email.

But statements he attributed to Ms Collins appear to have been debunked by the State Services Commission.

The new email shows Slater claiming to a Herald journalist in 2011 that Ms Collins was trying to widen an inquiry into the former SFO director Adam Feeley.

Mr Feeley was facing questions over using a bottle of champagne belonging to an investigation target to toast his prosecution.

The email reads: "Spoke to Crusher [Ms Collins] yesterday, she has asked the SSC [State Services Commission] to widen the scope of their inquiries to look at staff turnover and culture etc," Slater wrote.

"She wants him gone, she does not believe this is a storm in a champagne flute."

Deputy State Services Commissioner Doug Craig said the 2011 inquiry had no terms of reference because it was "a tightly focused employment investigation".

But he said staff turnover was not included in the inquiry, which instead focused on the champagne allegation and a claim Feeley gave away a book on another investigation target as a booby prize.

Mr Craig said the three years since then and staff turnover made it difficult to respond to queries about the 2011 inquiry. Commission staff were yesterday checking to see whether Ms Collins had made contact during the investigation. He said it was also possible releasing information sought by the Herald would prejudice the Prime Minister's inquiry. The October 7 email containing the new claims by Slater emerged in the wake of Ms Collins' resignation as Justice Minister. The new email was in a chain sent by Herald journalist Jared Savage, who broke the story of Mr Feeley and the champagne. He contacted Slater as part of ongoing inquiries, knowing of the blogger's friendship with the minister.

The October 5 email which triggered Ms Collins' resignation saw Slater claiming: "I spoke at length with the minister responsible today [Ms Collins]. She is gunning for Feeley. Any information that we can provide her on his background is appreciated."

After it was made public, Slater denied the statement was false but said "embellishing is a good word".

Prime Minister John Key is finalising details of an inquiry into issues raised in the email.

Ms Collins has denied any wrongdoing and said she would clear her name. She has made no comment on the most recent email and Slater has asked to no longer be called for comment on issues.