Union hits back on Shanes Jones' proposal to allow political appointees in public service

Shane Jones, the Minister for Regional Economic Development, has provoked the ire of the Public Service Association. Photo / Andrew Warner

The main union of public servants, the PSA, has reacted with alarm at suggestions minister Shane Jones that politicians should have the ability to appointment top public service bosses, instead of the State Services Commissioner.

The PSA has labelled the comments "out of touch and out of order" and says political interference could damage New Zealand's reputation as being one of the least corrupt in the world.

Jones, the Regional Economic Development Minister, has complained that the "bureaucracy" slows downs the processes getting projects off the ground.

He returned from a trip to Australia last week saying that over there the divisions between the bureaucracy and politicians has been softened and ministers are able to appoint their own choices to head their departments.

"I realise that some of these things I say will ruffle feathers," he said on RNZ "but the bantam bureaucrats, they need to realise that we govern For NZ Inc, not just For their perpetuation."

Jones told the Herald today he hoped to raise the issue with State Services Minister Chris Hipkins next week.

But PSA's national secretaries, Glenn Barclay and Erin Polaczuk, say Jones' measures would undermine public servants' constitutional role.

"They need to be free, frank and fearless – not controlled, cowed and cronyistic," they said in a joint statement.

They also said Jones' comments were reminiscent of the previous Government's "attacks on public servants."

"Our members do their jobs with commitment and integrity – despite increasing workloads, unending restructuring and a meaningless staffing cap."

New Zealand was rated top of Transparency International's list of the least corrupt countries in the world.

"Cronyism and political interference would severely damage that reputation."

"If Mr Jones is concerned about delays, then he needs to direct his considerable energies towards influencing the Government to lift the cap on public service staffing.

"And while he is at it he should push For the Government to relax the budget responsibility rules so the damage of nine years of underfunding can be repaired, and real change being."

For the past 30 years, top public servants have been appointed by and are employed by the State Services Commission - although the Government of the day can veto a recommended appointment.

The PSA says that in New Zealand, core Government administration makes up just 12.39 per cent of total employment compared with 18.98 per cent in Canada and 23.4 per cent in Britain.

Jones, a New Zealand First minister in the six-month old Government, has been criticised in the past For deviating from well-established norms when he criticised the board of Air New Zealand For cutting flights to Kapiti.

He has sought to find a way around that by saying today that his proposal to change the way the top echelons of the public service are appointed is being made in his capacity as a New Zealand MP and will be taking it to his party's conference.