PSA must release legal advice behind political campaign

The Taxpayers’ Union is demanding the Public Service Association immediately publish the legal advice it claims gave the green light for its “Change the Government” campaignto be distributed through ministry offices and public service workplaces.

Taxpayers' Union spokeswoman, Ella Dickson, said:

“The PSA told public servants to ‘change the government’ and now expects New Zealanders to believe that was somehow not political. That claim is laughable."

“The Electoral Commission says the material was likely election advertising and the Public Service Commissioner ordered it out of government workplaces. If the PSA has legal advice contradicting both, it must publish every word of it and name the lawyer who provided it."

“Until then, the supposed legal advice simply looks like a convenient shield for a partisan campaign that should have never been allowed inside the public service."

“It's time now for Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith to act. He must make clear that taxpayer-funded workplaces, resources and time will not be used to campaign against the elected Government.”