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The Government has been unable to find replacements for two critical regulatory positions in the telecommunications and electricity industries amid allegations of undue political interference.
It is understood that the country's first Telecommunications Commissioner, Douglas Webb - due to leave on March 7 - will stay in the
role because a replacement has not been found seven months after he resigned.
And the post of chairman of the Electricity Commission remains vacant after Roy Hemmingway left in November, saying he had been dumped for refusing to do what ministers would like.
National Party finance spokesman Bill English said the Government could not fill the positions because the commissioners were not allowed to do their job.
"It is evident from the last two commissioners that if the Government doesn't like what they are doing or what they are saying, they just step in," English said.
"Anyone who is a serious regulator is not going to put up with having to deal with the political whims of a micro-managing minister."
The Government had become too reliant on "sector specific" regulation so the regulators were not sure what the principles were and how they should be applied, said English.
"If there was more generic regulations, then the regulator has more chance of creating the certainty that the industry needs," he said.
Webb was charged with reviewing the telecommunications industry, recommending regulatory change and creating peace between warring internet and phone providers.
But he came in for trenchant criticism from Helen Clark's office when he recommended the unbundling of the local loop in 2003 - only to reverse that decision three months later.
Webb did not wish to comment about his position, but it is understood he will remain until the Government has found a replacement.
Ministry of Economic Development communications adviser Jamie Scott said no one had been appointed to the role of Telecommunications Commissioner but every effort was being made to appoint someone before Webb's tenure finished on March 7.
In May last year Helen Clark said: "To the best of my knowledge I can't even remember meeting the man." The Opposition claimed this showed she no longer had confidence in him.
Webb resigned two months later, but has denied claims he was pushed out of the job.
Internet NZ policy analyst Jordan Carter said Webb's was a tough job and it was better for the Government to take its time to find the right candidate.
"I think the Government should let regulators do their job and ... uphold and support [the Telecommunications Commissioner's] independence," he said.
A spokeswoman for Energy Minister David Parker said the search for a new chairperson of the Electricity Commission was ongoing and economist Peter Harris would remain acting in the position until the post was filled.
Late last year Hemmingway claimed he was forced out of his job for following Government policy rather than bending to political pressure from senior Cabinet ministers over Auckland's power supply upgrade.
"If you're going to have a regulatory commission, why bother putting qualified people in if you can simply ignore what they do?" he asked the finance and expenditure select committee.
Hemmingway said he regretted taking the job and, given the political interference he had experienced, it would be difficult for the Government to find a competent replacement.
"I wouldn't recommend that someone take the position," he said.
Chair Of The Electricity Commission
* Previously Roy Hemmingway
* Salary: $300,000
* Job: To regulate the operation of the electricity industry and markets.
Telecommunications Commissioner
* Currently Douglas Webb
* Salary: $335,453
* Job: To review the telecommunications industry, recommend regulatory change and create peace between warring internet and phone providers.
