Cullen to chair an SOE?

The Dom Post reports:

Michael Cullen is being tipped for a six-figure salary as chairman of one of the country's top state-owned enterprises.

Top of the likely list is power generator Mighty River Power, Government sources say.

have real problems with this.

I do not think it is credible you can go directly from attacking the Government in Parliament to working for them, chairing a major SOE, with say only a day or two in between.

Yes chaired SOEs under Labour – but he was appointed around four years after he Parliament. That makes a huge difference.

Supporting Helen for the UN job is different also – that is an international role – not a role that is serving the NZ Govt and at the total discretion of Cabinet.

I am not arguing that Cullen is not talented, and at the appropriate point in time, would be a good appointee to certain boards. But he should be out of consideration until National's second term (if there is one), or at least for a minimum of a year after he leaves Parliament.

How can the Government think it is serious when it complains abut breaches of the Public Finance , massive blowouts in the Crown Accounts, the disaster of a purchase that was , and then people read oh yeah we are looking to reward the guy did all this – before he even has even resigned from Parliament?

Most people in National were very relaxed about supporting Clark for a UN post. They are very much the opposite when it comes to having Cullen chair a major SOE.  I've already had absolutely furious phone calls this morning from very senior and long standing party members. I think some members would resign if an appointment was made during 2009.

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