What's hard to understand about the requirement for public servants to be politically impartial?
Highly political comments by Rob Campbell — who is Chair of both Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and the Environmental Protection Agency — make his continued employment as one of the Government's most senior public servants untenable, says the Taxpayers' Union. The Union has written to the Public Service Commissioner asking him to investigate Mr Campbell for what appears to be a serious and clear breach of The Standards of Integrity and Conduct applicable to civil servants.
Over the weekend, Mr Campbell published a news report about Christoanpher Luxon's alternative model to the Government's controversial Three Waters policy and commented:
I was so amused by this that I thought it needed to stand alone. Leaving the solution to the major issues we can all see to the very bodies that have failed to avert the issues can only evince [sic] a John McEnroe "You cannot be serious!" cry.
What on earth would make anyone think this was a sensible idea for debit raising alone, let alone the managment [sic] and delivery of the tasks. Geographic and social inequities deepening while the infrastructure rots.
Ican[sic] only think that this is a thin disguise for the dog whistle on "co-governance". Christopher Luxon might be able to rescue his party from stupidity on climate change but rescuing this from a well he has dug himself might be harder.
The post can still be viewed at:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7035415822630088704/
Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:
"For one of New Zealand's most senior bureaucrats to publish a diatribe attaching the Leader of the Opposition and suggest his opposition to co-governance is a 'dog whistle' is the most serious departure of public sector neutrality I have ever seen."
"The political attack, and inclusion of inflammatory language, shows a worrying lack of judgement from someone who is supposed to be looking after the reputation of the public sector organisations he leads."
"No matter your view on Three Waters, every New Zealander should be concerned with such a flagrant disregard to the long held rule that our civil service is to be, and seen to be, neutral."
"This is one of those rare instances where it appears untenable for the individual to continue in his role. To protect the integrity of Health New Zealand and the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr Campbell has no option but to resign."
"If Mr Campbell can't see the error in his ways, and if the ethical standards applicable to the civil service mean anything, he should be sacked."
The Code of Conduct for Crown Entity Board Members issued by the Public Service Commissioner states:
"We act in a politically impartial manner. Irrespective of our political interests, we conduct ourselves in a way that enables us to act effectively under current and future governments. We do not make political statements or engage in political activity in relation to the functions of the Crown entity."
The Code of Conduct for Crown Entity Board Members goes on to say:
"When acting in our private capacity, we avoid any political activity that could jeopardise our ability to perform our role or which could erode the public's trust in the entity. We discuss with the Chair any proposal to make political comment or to undertake any significant political activity."
Making the comments was Campbell's first mistake. He then compounded it by not understanding what he'd done wrong:
The chair of Health NZ is unrepentant for political comments he made on social media about a National Party policy announcement that's led to a call for him to "pull his head in or resign".
"Nothing to apologise for and nobody I need to apologise to," he told Newshub. "Has someone asked for an apology? If so I have not seen it."
Rob Campbell, chair of Te Whatu Ora, was critical of National's Three Waters announcement on Sunday on LinkedIn. . .
Newshub asked Campbell if he believed his comments were consistent with the code of conduct.
"Absolutely. Of course I am aware of and adhere to the Code. That Code enjoins me to be 'honest and open'," Campbell said.
"The comments referred to were in a private capacity. I cannot see how a view on water reform could jeopardise my ability to perform my role at Te Whatu Ora nor erode public trust in Te Whatu Ora."
It's not his views, it's that he expressed them publicly in contravention of the code of conduct.
Campbell made the comments on LinkedIn which highlights he is the chair of Te Whatu Ora as well as the Environmental Protection Authority.
He said there is a "big difference between being 'politically impartial' and being 'politically neutered'" and he doesn't regret making the comments.
Campbell said there was "nothing to apologise for" and he hadn't discussed the comments with Health Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall.
"Of course not. Why would I discuss National Party water reform policy with the Minister of Health?" . .
The more important question is: why did he not know that it was inappropriate to make the comments publicly and then to make matters worse by showing no understanding of nor repentance for, doing it?
Campbell's political allegiance isn't a surprise but people who accept a role to head a public entity are required to keep their political partiality private.
His lack of judgement over this raises questions about where else he lets his political views overrule his responsibilities in public bodies.
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