1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:01,960 Speaker 1: Government wants to have a crack well I look under 2 00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: the hood at corruption in the public service. The Serious 3 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: Fraud Office will lead a new anti Corruption Task Force 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: pilot taking place over the next six months. I R 5 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: d ACC, Ministry for Social Development some of the six 6 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:17,000 Speaker 1: departments that will have to report back to the SFO 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 1: by September this year. Mark Mitchell, Police Minister with us 8 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: this afternoon. High Minister Hi. 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 2: Ron Humble, apologies have been a bit late. 10 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: Hey, not a problem. We cope without you, Minister, but 11 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: it's good. It's good, it's good. And Tolly, head of 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: Transparency International, now she says we need a proper fully funded, 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 1: fully resourced agency. You've gone for a quite targ limited pilot. 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: Why is that, Well, I just we wanted. 15 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 2: To get something started straight away, and so that's why 16 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 2: we've announced today through the Serious the Serious Forward Officers 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: announced today the Anti Corruption Task Force Pilot. And I 18 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: just want to make it really clear that New Zealand 19 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: we still reminding what widely respected is one of the 20 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: least corrupt countries in the world. We should take pride 21 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 2: in that, but this initiative is about taking proactive action 22 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 2: to ensure that we keep it that way, So I 23 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 2: totally take on board and Tolly's comments. This government is 24 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 2: taking firm action and that's why we announce the task 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 2: force today. 26 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: Why the sixth that you've packed, I mean, at what 27 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,919 Speaker 1: risk is Land Information New Zealand and Sport New Zealand 28 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: of corruption. 29 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 2: Well, Land Information New Zealand is the biggest owner of 30 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 2: land and property in the country. Sporting Z both outstanding agencies. 31 00:01:33,480 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 2: By the way, the same with Sporting Zen. I'm the 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 2: Minister for Sporting Z. But we'd be naive to believe 33 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,199 Speaker 2: some of the biggest corruption issues that we've seen around 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: the world in the last decade involved sporting codes. So 35 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: I'm not saying that that's the issue that we're facing 36 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 2: those types of issues. We're clearly not. But we want 37 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: to make sure that we're proactive and we want to 38 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 2: make sure that we insulate ourselves and we do and 39 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 2: that we're going through best practice to ensure that those 40 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 2: risks that are identified around the world don't come landing 41 00:02:03,600 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 2: on our shores and that we maintain The top of 42 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 2: the index. 43 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: Is customs in there no, because customs the you know 44 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: Casey Costello's group that she's got that looks at transnational crime. 45 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 1: That's one of the often mentioned agencies. 46 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: It's a really good point. I'm glad you've raised that. 47 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 2: So yes, of course we've seen vulnerabilities in terms of 48 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: people that are high boganized crime and attempted infiltration into 49 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 2: the supply chains and baggage handlers and those types of issues. 50 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 2: Quite simply, Casey Costello is my Associate Minister of Police. 51 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,400 Speaker 2: As you've pointed out, she's also got Customs. We are 52 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: very aware of the situations there and so they're using 53 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 2: internal measures to make sure they're monitoring that very carefully. 54 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 2: But look, once the pilot is as complete, then as 55 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 2: a government we'll be sitting back and looking at saying, right, 56 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: what is what are our next steps? 57 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 1: But is it a bit weird to not include the 58 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 1: one agency you're most conned about. 59 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: No, because we're aware of that and we're keenly aware 60 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 2: of it, have been since we've come into government, and 61 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: that's why cases been very proactive and making sure they 62 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: use internal controls and orders to make sure that they 63 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 2: are on top of that. I'm not saying that they 64 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,359 Speaker 2: won't be excluded and they won't be included in the future, 65 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 2: but the moment we've got the CFL has got limited resource. 66 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: They're targeting, they're doing this within baselines. 67 00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:30,679 Speaker 1: So it's a resourcing issue. It's the problems too big, 68 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 1: too big an apple to bite a hole out of 69 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: over at Customs. 70 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: No, no, not at all. Like I said to you, 71 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: Customs is already using their own internal controls because we 72 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: are acutely aware that there have been issues with baggage 73 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 2: handlers and issues at the border, and so that Customs 74 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 2: and Minister Costello are already well and truly across that, folks. 75 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 2: This is obviously there's been some agencies and ministries that 76 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:00,120 Speaker 2: have been selected to be part of this pilot, the 77 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 2: wide ranging from small ones to big ones. And you know, 78 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 2: we'll run the pilot, we'll see what the results are 79 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: and then we'll be out there in the government and 80 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 2: the Cabinet will be able to take decisions moving forward. 81 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: All right, Minister, appreciate your trying this afternoon. Thank you 82 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: for being with me, Mac Mitchell, Police Minister. For more 83 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks 84 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 1: it'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast 85 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.