Douglas in breach of Cabinet rules?

Press, 2 December 1989, Page 10

Douglas in breach of Cabinet rules?

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

fe For the third time in a year, •• the Minister of Police, Mr Dougias, appears to have breached § Cabinet rules. h His latest apparent violation, in gaspeech in Christchurch this r week, took place after consulting £ the, Prime Minister, Mr Palmer. Mr Douglas spoke on Tuesday * to the Right-wing Mont Pelerin £ society conference, held in 5 closed session at the Christchurch Town Hall. . W' But .background notes on his J'speechwere available to the

Copies of the notes have reached the news media. These notes say that compared with its first three years, the Government is “coasting” compromising on decisions for immediate gain and failing to initiate new reforms to improve growth. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Mr Palmer saw the speech before delivery and it was cleared for Mr Douglas. She said it was known that the speech would not be released publicly. s The Cabinet Office manual, which provides for - Ministerial behaviour, outlines a

doctrine of collective responsibility. This requires Ministers to adhere to Cabinet policies even if they do not support them, both in public and in private. “A view contrary to or at variance with a decision of Cabinet must not be publicly expressed by a Minister and should not be privately expressed,” says the Cabinet guideline. Ministers are further required to deal only with their own portfolios “and not cut across the portfolios of colleagues.” The Minister of Finance, Caygill, was yesterday ap-> .proached for comment on the i

speech. He refused to respond, although he is understood to be furious at the speech. “The Press” also put questions to Mr Douglas, who refused to comment. Mr Douglas was asked if he accepted his speech breached collective Cabinet responsibility. He was also asked if he had broken faith with Mr Palmer. Just after returning to the Cabinet in August, Mr Douglas gave a speech in Australia arguing for more labour market reform. The Government has ruled out t significant changes to labour * Wket policy.

At the time Mr Palmer said Mr Douglas had agreed to give the speech while still a backbencher, but further such addresses were not expected. Last December, Mr Douglas photocopied Cabinet papers in the Parliamentary office of “The Press”- for distribution to journalists. . fjrr, The papers chroniclied hisrow as Minister of Finance with the then Prime Minister, Mr Lange, until he was dismissed from Cabinet. Release of the papers was fortjdden under the Cabinet ■ Office' Manual. '■ ■ s ‘- s " -