Taxpayer Victory, with a Twist: Four More on Gardening Leave

The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the Government’s rapid review of the Ministry of Justice, after new information revealed the Russell Harrison scandal is not the only case of its kind within the Ministry.

An Official Information Act request by the Taxpayers’ Union reveals the Ministry currently has four employees on paid special leave while facing criminal charges or serious misconduct investigations. One has been on leave for 25 weeks and another for 16 weeks.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tyler Groenewald said:

“The Russell Harrison case exposed an extraordinary failure of oversight. The revelation that four more Ministry employees are currently on paid special leave facing either criminal charges or serious misconduct investigations, including one for a period of six months, shows the Government is right to order a wider review.”

“The issue is no longer just how one case was allowed to drag on for five years. The review must examine how the Ministry manages these cases more broadly, whether proper oversight exists, and whether taxpayers’ interests are being protected.”

“When the Justice Minister says his confidence in the Ministry has been seriously shaken, that is a damning indictment of its leadership. Taxpayers now deserve to know who knew, why the Minister was kept in the dark, and what accountability will follow.”

“Taxpayers need confidence that years-long paid suspensions are not quietly continuing across government. This review could not come quickly enough.”