For years, decades even, Rob Campbell has been touted as the epitome of right-wing businessmen, politically savvy, and well-connected. He was a darling of the Act Party and feted wherever he went. But people forget where he came from, just like people forget where the Act Party came from. Both are hard-core Labour. Rob Campbell was a unionist before he became a businessperson. The Act Party was founded by ex-Labour people. The two were always going to be close.
So why then is there a big fuss when he came out and attacked the National Party? Why was it a surprise that this left-wing political appointee was criticising the National Party?
The chair of Health NZ is unrepentant for political comments he made on social media about a National Party policy announcement that’s led to a call for him to “pull his head in or resign”.
“Nothing to apologise for and nobody I need to apologise to,” he told Newshub. “Has someone asked for an apology? If so I have not seen it.”
Rob Campbell, chair of Te Whatu Ora, was critical of National’s Three Waters announcement on Sunday on LinkedIn.
“What on earth would make anyone think this was a sensible idea for debt raising alone, let alone the managment (sic) and delivery of the tasks,” he wrote.
“Geographic and social inequities deepening while the infrastructure rots.
“I can only think that this is a thin disguise for the dog whistle on ‘co-governance’.
“Christopher Luxon might be able to rescue his party from stupidity on climate change but rescuing this from a well he has dug himself might be harder.”
There was outrage on social media, including from National MPs, at the remarks. ACT leader David Seymour said he should “pull his head in or resign”.
It was pointed out that Campbell is subject to the Public Service Commission’s Code of Conduct for Crown Entity board members. That includes a section on political impartiality.
“We act in a politically impartial manner. Irrespective of our political interests, we conduct ourselves in a way that enables us to act effectively under current and future governments,” the code of conduct says.
“We do not make political statements or engage in political activity in relation to the functions of the Crown entity.
“When acting in our private capacity, we avoid any political activity that could jeopardise our ability to perform our role or which could erode the public’s trust in the entity. We discuss with the Chair any proposal to make political comment or to undertake any significant political activity.”
Newshub asked Campbell if he believed his comments were consistent with the code of conduct.
“Absolutely. Of course I am aware of and adhere to the Code. That Code enjoins me to be ‘honest and open'”, Campbell said.
Newshub
And open and honest he has been. Why shouldn’t he have an opinion, at least it is out in the open. He is a political hack, beholden to those who appointed him. Nothing to hide here. Since his union days he’s always been red, and red he remains.
At least we now know what he thinks. That is good. If Luxon doesn’t like it then they can sack him when and if, and it’s a big if, Luxon becomes Prime Minister.
Act won’t do much of anything, Campbell is embedded with those guys too.
This is a big fuss over nothing.
On the plus side National will be able to appoint their flunkies, who can then proceed to attack everything Labour says and does and point to the “Campbell Precedent”.
There are bigger things for National to worry about than attacking Rob Campbell.
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