PM stays clear of being drip-fed leak probe details

Helen Clark

Helen Clark says she is staying clear of getting details about what Telecom has told senior officials about the secret Cabinet document it was given.

The State Services Commission's chief legal adviser, David Shanks, is investigating how Telecom got the material revealing Government plans to force it to open its network to competitors. Commissioner Mark Prebble said yesterday that he expected the investigation would be completed within a month.

Telecom has said it handed over the "firm conclusions" of its own inquiries on Friday, widely believed to include the name of the person responsible for leaking the material, although neither it nor the commission will confirm this.

Helen Clark said Dr Prebble had phoned her on Sunday night "and said he was not in a position to report to me at present. His report is not imminent ... he hopes to be able to report to me within a month".

"He has not told me that a name was passed on or told me what any such name might be. I simply don't want to know bits and pieces about angles of the inquiry. It's best if he reports to me properly and in full. I don't think it's appropriate for him to be giving me progress reports."

There is finger-pointing within the Beehive over the leak and surprise from some political commentators over the Prime Minister's "opt not to know" stance yesterday. A different position could however expose her to Opposition allegations of meddling or trying to affect an outcome.

Asked whether she was concerned about potential security issues over the next month, she replied: "I would have thought whoever the person is would be feeling a certain amount of apprehension at the moment, given the level of technology and forensic science these days which can help trace people who leak.

"But it's really not appropriate to speculate on who it might be. Clearly the paper went beyond this particular building, it went beyond ministers' offices, so that's a rather wider shadow that's cast."

It had previously been thought that the leaked paper had come from or been copied from a minister's office, because it was prefaced by a letter typically included with ministers' copies only.

"That particular bundle I understand went beyond ministers' offices," Helen Clark said yesterday.

She said the inquiry would have full powers to summon witnesses and enter premises and require information.

Asked if she was aware if anyone had been stood down or resigned in relation to the leak, she said "not to my knowledge".

Helen Clark, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Communications Minister David Cunliffe have all cleared their offices from any involvement in the leak. The PM's office yesterday said other ministers' offices would not be giving the same assurances. They had nothing further to say while an inquiry was under way, her spokesman said.

The cabinet leak inquiry terms of reference are:

* Investigate how Telecom came to possess classified information about the Government's Telecommunications Stocktake Review; and

* Report to the Prime Minister and the Minister of State Services on the outcome of the investigation.