Twyford’s office lobbyist didn’t reveal contracts
A lobbyist who worked in Minister Phil Twyford’s office did not disclose the contracts he took through his lobbying firm while employed as the minister’s specialist adviser.
Barry Ebert took on three contracts for ‘‘research and communications work’’ while also working for the minister that were not disclosed to his employer, who yesterday believed Ebert had ceased ‘‘actively trading’’ when he joined Twyford’s team in October 2017.
Ebert was Twyford’s adviser between October 2017 and January 2020. He remained the sole director and sole shareholder of his lobbying firm, Three Point Two Communications.
He did not disclose he began taking contracts again to the Department of Internal Affairs, the organisation that officially employs ministerial staff. On Wednesday, the DIA told
Stuff that it believed the firm had stopped actively trading after Ebert had joined Twyford’s office.
‘‘Mr Ebert informed, and it was accepted by the Department of Internal Affairs, that the company had not been actively trading since October 2017,’’ Andrew Phillips, the DIA’s manager of ministerial resources, said.
But Twyford told a radio interview on Wednesday night that Ebert had continued to take contracts when he went part-time in August 2018. Ebert worked one day a week in the minister’s office and another in the Labour Leader’s Office.
DIA yesterday confirmed Ebert had not raised subsequent employment with them.
‘‘As part of the recruitment process, we asked Mr Ebert in
April 2018 if he had any conflicts of interest, noting he declared under ‘Previous employment’ his role as managing director for Three Point Two Communications. Mr Ebert confirmed at the time that he was not actively involved in Three Point Two Communications. Since then, Mr Ebert hasn’t advised us of any further changes in his circumstances,’’ a DIA spokesperson said.
Ebert said that ‘‘three shortterm research and communications jobs were done for three separate non-government clients between August 2018 and January 2020 to supplement my parttime income’’.
‘‘None of these jobs were government relations work and no conflict of interest arose,’’ he said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was satisfied there was no conflict of interest.
‘‘We do have some staff who are part time, I don’t think it’s unfair that they, to supplement their income, will do other contract work.
‘‘What’s really important is that they make sure that they do not act in any way that creates a conflict of interest in doing so, and in this case I’m advised the staffer in question did not,’’ she said.
‘‘Government relations’’ traditionally refers to what is known as lobbying – making representations to the Government on behalf of clients, while what ‘‘research and communications’’ covers is more broad and less clear.
Ebert said he would not disclose the names of clients as it was ‘‘commercially confidential to protect their privacy’’.