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Prime Minister Helen Clark says it was inappropriate for a suspended prison officer to go on a parliamentary rugby tour, but is refusing to say what action she will take against Corrections Minister Damien O'Connor.
The team, which is touring France and this week won the world cup for parliamentarians, includes Jim Morgan, who was stood down from Rimutaka Prison several months ago during an independent investigation.
Mr Morgan's wife is Mr O'Connor's senior private secretary in Parliament.
Helen Clark told journalists in Sydney as she left for an Apec summit meeting that she had not yet been able to get hold of Mr O'Connor, but hoped to do so soon.
While he had had delegated responsibility for employment matters at Rimutaka prison to avoid a conflict of interest, Clark said she still found it "a little bit odd" that a suspended employee would be on the tour.
"It will be something I will be taking up with him, " The PM said.
Asked if Mr O'Connor's job was on the line, Helen Clark just said: "I will be taking it up with him."
Mr O'Connor is a co-captain of the MPs' rugby teamm, with National MP Murray McCully.
It is not known why Mr Morgan was suspended from duty.
He has been a member of the parliamentary rugby team for several years.
Mr O'Connor, who is still in France, has not been able to be reached for comment.
National's corrections spokesman, Simon Power, said the issue raised serious questions over Mr O'Connor's ability to continue as a minister.
"It is a major slip in judgment for the minister to put himself in this predicament.
"It really does go directly to his capability to remain independent on these sorts of issues," Mr Power told NZPA today.
He said his understanding was that none of the other team members, including Mr McCully, knew of Mr Morgan's background.
"That is what McCully has told me and that really does add another plank to it. Not only did O'Connor make a very poor judgment call in making the decision himself, but in not to advise the rest of the people involved, just goes beyond belief," Mr Power said.
The Corrections Department has refused to comment.
- NZPA
