Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's warning against leaks of information has been leaked. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
A crackdown on public servants leaking information has been revealed in an email leaked to RNZ.
RNZ has seen a copy of the email sent by a department head to staff outlining Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche's warning against leaks of information.
"He is reminding us all of our responsibility as public servants and that leaking information goes against the core values of the Public Service and must stop.
"If individuals within our employment feel strongly on issues, there are mechanisms they can use but leaking of information isn't one of them," the message said.
It urged staff who had concerns to take their worries to their boss, or someone they trusted.
"If you have a concern about any work you are part of, or aware of something that is causing you concerns, please talk to your manager or someone within the ministry that you feel comfortable providing you with sound advice."
Sir Brian confirmed to RNZ he was aiming to put a stop to leaks, and in some cases public servants should be fired for doing so.
"I expect public service chief executives to take every possible action to ensure any leak is investigated and where appropriate those responsible are exited from our employment," he said.
"Public servants who leak information are undermining the government of the day and are in breach of the code of conduct. We all ultimately pay the price for the unprofessional actions of a few.
"This matter is really important to me."
The Commissioner's email was sent at 11.35am on 22 May, just hours after an RNZ report about a confidential pre-Budget decision seen by RNZ was halted by court injunction at the government's request just last week.
Other recent cases include documents seen by RNZ this month suggesting the government would shut down the $118 million Kāhui Ako programme; more than 100 pages of internal feedback in February over health data team cuts; leaks in December of a report from the Interislanders ferries advisory group; and leaks relating to the Treaty Principles Bill in September.
Green Party public service spokesperson Francisco Hernandez said it was a symptom of a public service that was seeing its advice and evidence ignored "in favour of evidence produced by the private sector and by the tobacco lobby".
"I don't condone it, but I understand ... they're like 'well, if they're going to do this, if they're going to punch down on us, then what recourse do we have other than to actually go to the fourth estate'.
"When you ignore principles for good decision making, when you kind of rush through urgency, that leaves officials feeling frustrated and sidelined and obviously leaks aren't good but they are a manifestation of a deeper and unhealthy culture and contempt for democracy that this coalition has nurtured."
He said the relationship between the coalition government and the public service was mixed, and pointed to reporting on two Official Information Act responses on the same matter as an example of ministerial "interference" which could contribute.
"If public servants are sort of seeing that the ministers are trying to censor advice it's natural for them to feel frustrated and it's natural for them to actually see their advice which is evidence based, try and see the light of day."
RNZ has sought a response from the Public Service Minister Judith Collins.
Hernandez said the commissioner was just doing his job, but there needed to be balance - that he should also be ensuring ministers respected the neutrality of the public service.
Sir Brian also provided a copy of the email he had sent to public sector chief executives, which did not include the suggestion for staff to approach a manager over their concerns.
It reads:
Hi there,
You will have seen the media reports on the various leaks that are occurring in the system. Clearly this is unacceptable and we have to take every action possible to stop it.
The unauthorised release of information to third parties goes to the very heart of confidence and trust in our systems and us as public servants. We all ultimately pay the price for the unprofessional actions of a few.
Can I please ask you to reinforce within your respective agencies that this behaviour goes against the core values of the Public Service and must stop. If individuals within our employment feel strongly on issues there are mechanisms they can use but leaking of information isn't one of them.
Please reinforce the messages and take every action possible to ensure any leak is investigated and where appropriate those responsible are exited from our employment.
