Good riddance

Auditor-General Martin Matthews has resigned. Good riddance. Given his woeful performance as chief executive of the Ministry of Transport, where he appears to have repeatedly looked the other way on Joanne Harrison's fraud, there really was no other option. While the Select Committee report into his appointment has clearly been rewritten in light of the resignation, it is clear on one thing: the constitutionally important role performed by the Controller and Auditor-General means that they must demonstrate the highest standards of judgement, and to have a reputation that is beyond question. Matthews failed on both counts. And that is why he had to go. And if he hadn't resigned, I would have expected the committee to recommend an address to the Governor-General to sack him.