MBIE boss’s slimy excuse for misleading Parliament fails the sniff test

Responding to MBIE chief executive Nic Blakeley denying any attempt to mislead Parliament over the failed $35 million Biometric Capability Update project, Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director Jordan Williams said:

“Claiming the project was 'commercially sensitive' is a slimy bureaucratic excuse for misleading MPs. If Mr Blakeley thought could not give the evidence publicly, he could easily have asked the Chair to give evidence in private or as secret evidence."

"Suggesting something is too commercially sensitive for MPs is not just arrogant, it demonstrates a total lack of understanding of who is boss in a Parliamentary democracy."

"But it also fails the sniff test. Ministers too were victims in what is starting to appear as an orchestrated campaign of lies and omissions by MBIE officials about this particular project. Any competent CEO would have wanted to be transparent and truthful, given the history of this matter."

“The fact remains that MPs asked about the project’s progress and were not told it had already been cancelled. The buck stops with Mr Blakeley who knew full well MPs were misled, and failed to immediately correct it."

“In comparable jurisdictions, misleading the legislature is treated very seriously. This is now a test of whether New Zealand’s institutions are prepared to hold the most senior public servants accountable."

“No one is suggesting Mr Blakeley should be sent to prison, which is technically within the powers of the Privileges Committee. But it is difficult to see how Blakeley can remain in his job if it is found that he mislead Parliament and breached Privlidge over his Ministery's $35 million failure.”