I spent a bit of question time today trying to get Nick Smith to say sorry to the staff at ACC. This might seem like a minor thing, but bear with me here. The story is this. In the financial review debate in Parliament on Tuesday last week Nick Smith blurted out that ACC was going to announce redundancies in the corporate office. The problem was staff had not been told. The Chief Executive was forced to issue an apology to staff that they had found out this way, and that her plan had been for people to be treated with respect and dignity.

Nick Smith’s response has been to say he has nothing to apologise for. He had thought it was being announced Tuesday, when it was Wednesday. I find this a breathtaking display of disrespect and arrogance. His lack of empathy for the workers involved speaks volumes to me.

I get a lot of tips and information about likely job cuts in the public sector but I always try to ensure that any public comment comes only after the affected have been informed. It is common courtesy. Just as is apologising when your mistake causes concern and insecurity for hard-working people. Nick Smith’s pre-emptive announcement did just that. Staff at ACC now know how little their Minister thinks of them. He could make up a little for that with an apology. It really is an easy word to say.