MP to face probe over invitation

Government list MP Paul Quinn is being investigated by the State Services Commission after issuing a seminar invitation in conjunction with Work and Income.

Labour MP Grant Robertson has complained to the commission following Quinn's invitation to business leaders and community groups to attend a workshop in the Labour-held electorate of Hutt South, "in association with Work and Income".

Next Monday's public event is advertised as a seminar on work opportunities for youth.

Public service rules require that government departments have a hands-off approach to political events or material. Quinn's invitation includes the National Party logo and his face.

In a letter to Robertson acknowledging his complaint, State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie said he found the material "concerning" and had sent it to Ministry of Social Development (MSD) chief executive Peter Hughes for investigation.

Hughes said yesterday he was taking the complaint "very seriously".

"I am investigating and will get to the bottom of how Work and Income has become associated with this event in the way that it appears it has," he said.

"It is never appropriate for public servants to be, or to be seen to be, connected with any party political meeting or material.

"It's my expectation that every MSD staff member knows the importance of, and demonstrates, political neutrality."

Robertson said Quinn had breached state sector rules.

Quinn appeared to think the public service was an extension of his party operations.

"By his actions, Mr Quinn is politicising the public service.

"As an opposition MP, I have no right to ask officials to host meetings in association with me, and neither does Mr Quinn."

However, Quinn said yesterday he had done nothing wrong, and that it was Work and Income that had approached him with the seminar proposal to promote its Job Ops and Community Max programmes for young people. "It's not a party political meeting. It's a public meeting.

"Te Puni Kokiri [Ministry of Maori Development] organised day-long hui with (former prime minister) Helen Clark. We're just following that example, aren't we?" Quinn said.

Hughes said he would decide whether Work and Income could be associated with the event after he had completed his inquiries.