Cheap inquires jeopardize the consultant

The Campbell government has watered down another promise and has turned to a consultant, Fred Wright, rather than appoint an Inquiry Commissioner to investigate the fast ferries. This could be because the government is more interested in a political process and scoring points than it is in seeking the truth. Initially, however, there is reason to be concerned for Mr. Wright. The integrity of yet another review into the fast ferries is in his hands, but he has none of the powers or protection of the Inquiry Act.

Section 12 of the Inquiry Act reads:
"A commissioner appointed under this Part has the same protection and privileges, in case of an action brought for an act done or omitted to be done in the execution of the commissioner's duties, as are by law given to the judges of the Supreme Court."

By comparison, a consultant working for government has no more personal protection than cabinet may seek to extend by way of reimbursement should the consultant become the subject of an action as the result of his work.

The government has attempted to justify its refusal to use the Inquiry Act on the basis that the inquiry into gaming became too expensive as the result of the use of lawyers. Before firing Commissioner Smith, that inquiry's costs reached $6 million. In comparison with the costs of many extensive investigations and trials, that is large but consistent. We seem to have a government that is saying justice is too expensive. Mr. Wright needs to hope that he doesn't discover what happens when inquiries are done on the cheap.