Murray McCully MP
National Party State Services Spokesman
01 March 2004

National on Mark Prebble appointment

The new State Services Commissioner will have a huge task ahead of him if he wishes to rebuild National Party confidence in himself and his new role, says National Party State Services spokesman Murray McCully. Mr McCully says the role played by Mark Prebble in the Corngate scandal prior to the last election will see him start his new job "well behind the eight ball".

"As the head of the public service, and the person who appoints and holds other chief executives accountable on matters of professional performance, the State Services Commissioner must enjoy the confidence of politicians and parties across the Parliament.

"Dr Prebble's partisan performance in suppressing important information from the public prior to the last election suggests he will have to undergo a serious change of attitude if he intends to succeed in his new role.

"Coming hard on the heels of the attempted cover-up of the 'lie in unison scandal' by the Government, the appointment of a person who was prepared to do Helen Clark's dirty work on the eve of the last election leads to obvious conclusions.

"It will be over to Dr Prebble to prove those conclusions wrong," says Mr McCully.

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