Call for tax culture change welcomed by PSA
PSA press release 13 October
Call for tax culture change
welcomed by PSA
The PSA, the union representing New Zealand’s tax workers, today expressed satisfaction with the findings of the select
committee inquiry into the IRD.
‘In particular we are happy our submission highlighting a culture of “punishment and fear” has led to some serious
analysis of what has been happening and looked at some remedies for it,” says the PSA president Kathy Higgins.
The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s report says there must be ‘a cultural shift within the department and that shift
must come from the top.’
The priority recommendation there be a ‘nationally consistent training programme aimed at improving communication and
customer service skills’ is ‘in line with what the PSA has been saying needs to happen and happen soon,’ Ms Higgins
said.
By identifying taxpayer satisfaction as a paramount objective for the department the report explicitly said ‘it did not
wish to denigrate the department’s employees’ saying ‘the level of communication between (the) National Office and the
coalface needs improvement.’
Ms Higgins said the findings show there is a real need for IRD to embrace and involve staff in a ‘workplace partnership’
aimed at driving up better quality service and more satisfying jobs with and continuing emphasis on skills development
and career structures.
ENDS
For more information please call the PSA president Kathy Higgins on 021 615 154 or Wellington-based organiser June
Hoddle on 025 277 8126