Government Must Ban Public Sector Golden Handshakes

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is calling on the Government to ban settlement payouts across councils and government agencies following the Chatham Islands Council’s $100,000 payment to disgraced former Chief Executive Paul Eagle.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesman, Rhys Hurley, said:

“How on Earth can someone whose conduct prompted their employer to write to the Serious Fraud Office walk away with over 10 cents in every dollar from the Chathams’ rates bills?"

“Minister van Velden’s reforms were meant to crack down on golden handshakes for public sector bosses earning more than $200,000, but the opt-out clause leaves the back door wide open for exactly this sort of payout to continue.”

“Taxpayers and ratepayers should not be forced to reward failure. The Government needs to shut the loopholes and end public sector golden handshakes for good.”