Goff: Diplomatic cable leak damaging

Phil Goff says future discussions between Australia and NZ are in jeopardy. Photo / Mark Mitchell

An embarrassing leak to Australian media of a high-level New Zealand diplomatic cable has jeopardised future discussions between the two countries, Labour leader Phil Goff says.

The Government is investigating how the report, which details the takeover of the Australian prime ministership by Julia Gillard, fell into the hands of the Australian newspaper, which published parts of it yesterday.

The newspaper said the report presented an alternative view of a deal between Ms Gillard and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on June 23 that was not honoured. This was reportedly that if Mr Rudd stood aside and allowed Ms Gillard to take over, he would be made Foreign Affairs Minister before the election was called.

Ms Gillard has since said she only intends to give Mr Rudd a senior Cabinet position if she is re-elected.

The New Zealand diplomatic report - from the High Commission to the New Zealand Government and dated June 29 - suggests that it was Mr Rudd who broke the deal when he fronted a press conference vowingto fight for his job, the night beforethe leadership changed hands.

The report is quoted as saying that Mr Rudd "has apparently forgotten that the 'deal' struck in advance of the leadership spill was that he would stand down immediately [on June 23]."

Mr Goff, a former Foreign Minister, called it a serious breach of protocol that undermined the integrity and credibility of the foreign service.

"It's extraordinary that a confidential diplomatic cable could have found its way into the hands of the news media, and that could be potentially damaging to the relationship between New Zealand and Australia.

"Any confidential briefing likely to be given to New Zealand diplomats in Canberra is now likely to be withheld."

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English said that if it was a leak, it would be a concern, but he had no more information on the matter.

It is usual for senior members of the High Commission to be briefed on matters of the day, and they then inform the New Zealand Government to give a clear understanding of the political scene. But conditions of absolute confidentiality apply.

The Government is investigating two other leaks: its mining proposals in Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act, and plans to restructure the public service and merge Archives New Zealand and the National Library into the Department of Internal Affairs.

A third inquiry into how advice from the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs was leaked to a Radio New Zealand reporter failed to find the source.