SSC appoints Rebstock for 'prompt' probe into NZ foreign ministry leak

Tuesday 8th May 2012

The State Services Commission has appointed former Commerce Commission chair Paula Rebstock to probe the leak of three Cabinet papers on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade restructuring.

The papers were provided in confidence to senior officials at MFAT, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the State Services Commission and Treasury, State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie said in a statement. Rennie has asked for the investigation to be wrapped up "promptly" so the findings can be made public as soon as possible.

Last week, Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff used the papers to publicise a backdown on the scale of job cuts to the foreign affairs ministry. Goff was Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister in the first six years of the last administration, and retained Trade Negotiations for a further three years.

That's pushed out the timing of a final decision on MFAT's restructuring, which was due to be announced on Thursday, Prime Minister John Key said yesterday. A final announcement will be made once Cabinet has signed off on the latest proposal.

Rebstock gained a reputation as an enforcer during her time in charge of the antitrust regulator when she oversaw the operational separation of Telecom. More recently, she headed the government-appointed Welfare Working Group.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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