Two controversial National MPs get a mention at NZ Herald today.
Staff from three government departments who worked with MP Maggie Barry raised concerns about her behaviour during her time as a minister – and at least one also complained to the head of the public service.
Confirmation of the complaints from government staff about Barry’s conduct follow bullying allegations made by her electorate staff last year.
Last week, the Auditor General asked the Parliamentary Service to re-investigate the claims of unlawful political work.
This week, the Department of Conservation, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry for Culture and Heritage – all which had workers seconded to Barry’s Parliamentary office – confirmed to the Weekend Herald they also had staff raise concerns about Barry’s conduct.
Additionally, the State Services Commission (SSC) revealed concerns were raised with its office in respect of Barry during her time as a minister, too.
Details of all the complaints will be kept secret, however, despite requests they be made available under the Official Information Act as part of the Weekend Herald‘s investigation into the alleged bullying.
In a statement released yesterday, a spokesperson for Barry said she was never made aware of any formal complaints against her by any government department staff seconded to her Beehive office.
“In the three years she was a Minister, concerns may have been raised and discussed but they did not progress to any formal complaints process,” the statement said.
“No one chose to pursue any concerns and there were no formal complaints which is why Maggie Barry not made aware of them.”
I am not a fan of Barry, She seems to have fixed views on things, and gets abrasive with people with alternate views.
Noted – Maggie Barry: Bias and bullying in the euthanasia debate?
Anyone who has followed the Justice select committee hearings into David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Billor the debate around assisted dying generally will probably not be surprised that Maggie Barry — a staunch opponent of a law change — has been accused of bullying by three former parliamentary staff.
In September, former intensive care specialist and assisted dying campaigner Dr Jack Havill called for her to resign as deputy chair of the committee on the grounds she was “disparaging to submitters” who argued in favour of the bill.
Barry’s abrasive and rude behaviour when discussing assisted dying is not confined to select committee hearings, according to David Speary, who wrote to the North Shore Times in late September:
“Do not be dismissive of Jack Havill’s or Bets Blake’s claim about Maggie Barry’s attitude at the End of Life Choice hearings. I attended a ‘Community Conversation’ held by the [Catholic] church in Devonport earlier in this year, and was flabbergasted at Ms Barry’s actions.
“She was defending the Catholic church’s opposition to the bill against a lady from the End of Life Choice Society. She interrupted the EoLC speaker and, when it was her time, completely dominated the rest of the meeting. The chairman could hardly give anybody else a chance.
And Sarah Dowie is working in her electorate – National MP Sarah Dowie says Invercargill locals have backed her over Jami-Lee Ross saga
Embattled National MP Sarah Dowie says she’s had “nothing but support and encouragement” from her constituency and is refusing to lie low while police probe her alleged communications with ex-lover Jami-Lee Ross.
After a brief hiatus from the public glare, Dowie has been actively campaigning in the country’s southernmost electorate over the past month, covering hundreds of kilometres in her conspicuous National Party blue car with her photograph emblazoned on its side.
She has been a vocal critic of the vocational education reforms, with a local newspaper today running a prominent column where Dowie blasted the Government for needlessly putting the future of a successfully-run Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) “up in the air”.
And today, she also launched a petition keep the Riverton horse race track open.
peaking to the Herald after today’s public meeting, before getting in a taxi to attend a Stand Up for SIT protest across town, Dowie said locals have been understanding ever since her affair with Ross was exposed.
“In all fairness, I’ve been well-received,” said the mother-of-two who is understood to have separated from husband, former Otago cricketer Mark Billcliff.
“There’s been a lot of comment that Invercargill electorate is a very conservative electorate. But you want to know something? If you’re talking about conservatism, then you’re also talking about people who understand that everyone’s human.
“I’ve had nothing but support and encouragement with me running on all of these issues.”.
Those who don’t support her may be more likely to talk behind her back.
Asked whether police have spoken to her, she refused to comment.
“The matter is with my lawyer and it would be inappropriate to make any further comment,” she said.
That seems to be standard advice for National MPs being investigated by the police.
Dowie hosted National’s education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye at today’s public meeting.
During her talk, Kaye praised Dowie for her hard work on the ground in opposing Labour’s education reform plans.
“This province is under assault right now. And it is purely because of this ideology that everything has to be centralised,” Dowie told the gathering.
“We need to retain our community spirit down here. Stay with us. I’m parochial.”
She has a lot of work to do in her political life, and probably also in her personal life.