Less than a fortnight after her return from the ILO in Geneva Kate Wilkinson told a select committee this morning that she could not remember if she had met with the ILO Secretary General.
After advice from officials it was confirmed that she hadn’t. Causes one to wonder what she went there for.
She may have met Director General Somavia?
No she didn’t. Made clear this morning by her officials. Juan Somavia is not a forgetable character. I’m pretty sure every NZ minister going back to Bolger (who chaired ILO in early 80s) would have had a one on one with the D-G. Really important opportunity to push a NZ perspective on a pretty big UN agency.
My apologies, Mr Mallard – my comment was tongue-in-cheek. The position is Director General of the ILO, not Secretary General. I am sure that you are correct and that Ms Wilkinson did not meet DG Somavia, You are also correct that this is unfortunate, It is interesting to note that NZ Ministers of Labour of all creeds and colours have often been highly-respected in the ILO and have been the well-received by the DGs over the years.
I’m not sure that having a good reason to travel is as important for ministers now as it was previously. According to Treasury new National Party ministers have spent $739,000 on travel in their first three months – more than double the $336,000 Labour ministers spent on travel in the same period last year. So much for saving money.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10580801
Says something doesn’t it when our Government doesn’t perform well in representing NZ at UN level -
What’s happening to CONFINTEA 4 December 09 in Brazil?
I know that in Seoul in October 08 the NZ contingent stood us in good stead with the Asia Pacific Regional conference – literally sweeping up the Pacific Island nations as well as Australia who sent 1 representative and producing a collaborative effort that spoke well about our level of leadership, it didn’t go un-noticed. There will be a noticeable gap if we’re not in Brazil in full strength in Decemeber, it might even be obvious to some that there has been a change in Government or something – signalling shifting priorities – who knows?