PM defends chief over phone records release

Wayne Eagleson, chief of staff for the National Party.

Prime Minister John Key is standing by his chief of staff after calls for his resignation over the release of a journalist's phone records.

Mr Key said this morning that Wayne Eagleson's job was safe and rejected claims that the phone records of Fairfax reporter Andrea Vance were released because of emails from Mr Eagleson.

"He has acted totally professionally and has my 100 per cent support.''

Parliamentary Service general manager Geoff Thorn resigned yesterday after it was revealed Speaker David Carter had been misled about Miss Vance's phone records being handed over to the Henry inquiry into the leak of Rebecca Kitteridge's GCSB compliance report.

It is unclear who is responsible for authorising the release of the records, but an email from Mr Eagleson to Mr Thorn had shown the Prime Minister wished Parliamentary Service to hand over the records relating to a named list of ministers and other material.

Mr Key said it was not intended that Miss Vance's records would be handed over.

When asked if it would have been more appropriate for Mr Eagleson to operate through Mr Carter rather than through Mr Thorn, Mr Key replied: "No- in the case of Parliamentary Service, they are the body that collects email data for Ministerial Services.... that's the right place for Wayne Eagleson to go.''

"Secondly, he was the person on my behalf that had contacted all ministers and staff telling them that it was my expectation that they would comply, and he had drafted the terms of reference for me that were put out in my name,'' said Mr Key.

Mr Key would not comment on Mr Thorn's resignation, saying it was a matter between Mr Thorn and his employer, the State Services Commissioner.