Shadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon | |
|---|---|
 Shadow Cabinet ofNew Zealand | |
| 30 November 2021 – 27 November 2023 | |
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| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Leader of the Opposition | Christopher Luxon |
| DeputyLeader of the Opposition | Nicola Willis |
| Member party | |
| Status in legislature | Official Opposition |
| History | |
| Election | 30 November 2021 |
| Legislature term | 53rd New Zealand Parliament |
| Predecessor | Shadow Cabinet of Judith Collins |
| Successor | Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins |
TheShadow Cabinet of Christopher Luxon formed theofficial Opposition in the53rd New Zealand Parliament from December 2021 to November 2023, replacing theShadow Cabinet of Judith Collins.Christopher Luxon was appointedLeader of the National Party andLeader of the Opposition ina party leadership election on 30 November 2021.[1]
On 24 November 2021, National Party leaderJudith Collins demoted National MP and former leaderSimon Bridges over historical allegations of "serious misconduct" involving fellow MPJacqui Dean.[2][3] In reality, the "serious misconduct" was just a joke Bridges had made to Dean several years earlier, causing mild offense to her, for which he had already given an accepted apology.[4] In response to Collins' demotion of Bridges, the National Party's parliamentary caucus passed a vote of no confidence in her leadership on 25 November. Deputy leader Shane Reti assumed the role of interim leader until aleadership vote was held on 30 November.[5]
Bridges andChristopher Luxon announced they were running for the leadership whileNicola Willis announced she was running for the deputy leadership.[6] Prior to the leadership vote on 30 November, Bridges withdrew from the race and endorsed Luxon. As a result, Luxon and Willis were elected as leader and deputy leader.[7]
In his first post-leadership election press conference on 30 November 2021, Luxon did not release many details on portfolio allocations that would be given out in the first iteration of his shadow cabinet, but it was confirmed thatWellington Central-basedList MPNicola Willis would be Deputy Leader of the Opposition and that she would most likely retain the Housing spokesperson portfolio.[8][9]
The following day theOtago Daily Times reported thatMichael Woodhouse, who shared the Finance portfolio withAndrew Bayly, was likely to not retain the role in Luxon's shadow cabinet.[10] Luxon announced on 2 December 2021 that Bridges would be the finance and infrastructure spokesperson, ranked third in the shadow cabinet.[11] Luxon announced the remaining portfolio allocations on 6 December.[12] Only the first 20 were given numerical rankings, with the rest being listed by seniority.[13] On 7 December, the caucus electedChris Penk as senior whip and re-electedMaureen Pugh as junior whip.[14]
Luxon carried out his first shadow cabinet reshuffle on 16 March 2022 to account for the resignation of Finance and Infrastructure spokespersonSimon Bridges, who was ranked third in the line up. Bridge's Finance portfolio was given to Deputy LeaderNicola Willis while Infrastructure was given toChris Bishop, who also moved up in the rankings from fourth to third, while replacing Willis in the Housing portfolio. DrShane Reti moved up from fifth to fourth in the rankings, with Justice spokespersonPaul Goldsmith moving up from 12th to replace Reti in fifth.[15]
On 14 October 2022Barbara Kuriger, Spokesperson for Agriculture, Biosecurity and Food Safety, resigned from her portfolios due to a personal conflict of interest between her and theMinistry for Primary Industries.Todd Muller picked up the roles in an acting capacity pending a larger reshuffle.[16]
National MPSam Uffindell entered Parliament as Simon Bridges' successor through the2022 Tauranga by-election in June 2022, although was suspended from caucus the following month before being allocated any portfolio. Following an investigation into historical bullying allegations, Uffindell was reinstated into the National caucus and, in November 2022, he confirmed in anInstagram Q and A he was the party's new Associate Spokesperson for Research, Science, and Innovation, and Associate Spokesperson for Economic and Regional Development.[17][18]
Luxon announced an election year reshuffle on 19 January 2023. Former leadersJudith Collins andTodd Muller were reported as the "big winners" with Collins returning to 10th position and Muller returned to the climate change and agriculture portfolios he had held between 2018 and 2020.[19] New MPTama Potaka became spokesperson for Māori Development. Senior MP Chris Bishop gained responsibility for reform of theResource Management Act 1991, losing the COVID-19 portfolio to Health spokesperson Shane Reti.Barbara Kuriger was retained as Conservation spokesperson andTodd McClay was returned to the group of twenty ranked MPs.[20][19]
The list of portfolio spokespersons, as of 19 January 2023[update], is as follows.[20]
| Rank | MP | Portfolio | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Christopher Luxon |
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| 2 | Nicola Willis |
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| 3 | Chris Bishop |
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| 4 | DrShane RetiQSM |
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| 5 | HonPaul Goldsmith |
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| 6 | HonLouise Upston |
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| 7 | Erica Stanford |
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| 8 | Matt Doocey |
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| 9 | Simeon Brown |
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| 10 | HonJudith Collins |
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| 11 | HonMark Mitchell |
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| 12 | Todd Muller |
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| 13 | Melissa Lee |
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| 14 | Andrew Bayly |
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| 15 | HonGerry Brownlee |
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| 16 | HonTodd McClay |
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| 17 | HonMichael Woodhouse |
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| 18 | Stuart Smith |
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| 19 | HonScott Simpson |
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| 20 | Penny Simmonds |
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| Simon O'Connor |
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| Barbara Kuriger |
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| Maureen PughONZM |
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| Harete Hipango |
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| Chris Penk |
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| Tim van de Molen |
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| Nicola Grigg |
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| Joseph Mooney |
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| Simon Watts |
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| Sam Uffindell |
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| Tama Potaka |
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| HonDavid Bennett |
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| HonJacqui Dean | |||
| Ian McKelvie |
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On 19 April 2023, National unveiled its 19-point plan called "Getting Back to Farming." Key policies include scrapping two existing local and Central Government policies for every new policy brought in, doubling the number ofRecognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers from 19,000 to 38,000, creating a residency pathway for RSE workers via the Accredited Employer Work Visa, scrapping the requirement to pay migrant workers the median wage of $30 an hour, banning foreign investors from buying farms to convert into carbon farming, resuming live animal exports, amending the Government's proposed drinking standards, and deferring winter grazing rules.[21][22]Agriculture MinisterDamien O'Connor andGreen Party environment spokespersonEugenie Sage criticised National's proposal to scrap every two existing policies, with the former describing it as "ridiculous" and the latter expressing concern about the rollback of environmental regulations.Federated Farmers national presidentAndrew Hoggard praised National's proposal to defer winter grazing rules while O'Connor criticised National for its alleged unwillingness to give clear guidelines to farmers. The Green Party andGreenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand opposed the proposed resumption of animal live exports on animal welfare grounds.[21]
In early March 2023, Luxon announced National's childcare tax rebate policy known as "Family Boost" during his "State of the Nation" speech in Auckland. As part of the Family Boost policy, National if elected at the2023 New Zealand general election would order the public service to slash consultancy bills by NZ$400 million. National would reallocate these funds to giving a 25% rebate to most families' childcare bills. Under National's proposed childcare policy, families earning below NZ$140,000 per annum would get a weekly rebate of NZ$75, totalling to an annual rebate of NZ$3,900. Families earning between NZ$140,000 and NZ$180,000 would be eligible for a progressively smaller rebate while those earning above NZ$180,000 would not qualify for the rebate. National's public service spokespersonSimeon Brown announced that a future National Government would also reduce the amount of public funds spent on hiring consultants and contractors. In response, Deputy Prime MinisterCarmel Sepuloni claimed that National's childcare rebate policy was not well designed and would not help the bottom income earners.[23][24]
In late March 2023, Luxon launched the National Party's "Electrify New Zealand" policy with the aim of doubling the country's supply of affordable clean energy. The first part of this policy include encouraging new renewable power projects including solar, wind and geothermal by requiring decisions on resource consents to be issued in one year and consents to last for 35 years, and encouraging investment in transmission and local lines by eliminating the consents requirements for upgrades to existing infrastructure and most new infrastructure.[25][26] To fix the resource consent process, National has promised to issue National Policy Statements on theResource Management Act 1991 and "Renewable Electricity Generation."[26]
In early February 2022, Luxon announced that National MPs would be allowed a conscience vote on the Labour Government'sConversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill; abandoning Collins' opposition to the legislation.[27][28] The Conversion Practices Prohibition Bill passed its third and final reading on 15 February 2022; with 25 National MPs including Luxon voting in favour of the legislation and eight voting against it.[29][30]
On 23 March 2023, Luxon unveiled National's education policy in the leadup to the 2023 New Zealand general election. To improve literacy and numeracy in the primary school curriculum, the Party proposed introducing at least one hour of mandatory reading, writing, and mathematics; standardised testing of children's reading, writing and numeracy skills twice a year; scrapping teachers' registration fees; and creating a centralised online database for teachers to access lesson plans. Prime MinisterChris Hipkins responded that the two major parties could work to reach a bipartisan consensus on improving foundational skills for children while the Greens denounced the proposed policy as an expensive distraction. The ACT Party urged the National Party to focus on improving children's learning outcomes rather than "artificially inflated" grades.[31][32]
On 9 August 2023, Luxon announced that a future National government would ban cellphones at school to help children focus on their lessons and improve their academic performance. National's proposed cellphone ban was described as unnecessary by Prime MinisterChris Hipkins, Secondary Principals' Association president andPapatoetoe High School principal Vaughan Couillault, andWairarapa College principal Matt White who contended that schools should be allowed to decide their own cellphone usage policies.[33][34]Otago Boys' High School rector Richard Hall supported a national ban on cellphones in school while Otago Secondary Principals' Association president andSouth Otago High School principal Mike Wright, and Waitaki Girls High School Principal Sarah Hay said that schools should decide their own cellphone policies.[35]
In early July 2023, the National Party campaigned on building a new medical school at theUniversity of Waikato to address the national shortage of doctors and reversing the Government's cuts to the newDunedin Hospital.[36][37] In September 2023,Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported that Waikato University's Vice-ChancellorNeil Quigley had worked with several National Party figures including health spokespersonShane Reti, former National cabinet ministerSteven Joyce and his lobbying firm Joyce Advisory to develop National's policy to establish a third medical school at Waikato. Waikato University then hired Joyce's former press secretary and political advisor Anna Lillis to promote the school. In response,Tertiary Education Union's Waikato University organiser Shane Vugler criticised the university leadership for compromising its political independence. According RNZ, Quigley had told a senior National MP that the Waikato Medical School could be a "gift" for a future National government.[38] In June 2023, RNZ had also reported that Waikato University had paid nearly NZ$1 million in consultancy fees to Joyce Advisory.[39] In response to media coverage, Luxon defended Waikato University's process for establishing a third medical school, and emphasised that National and Waikato had supported the proposal for several years. Luxon argued that the proposed Waikato Medical School could help address the national shortage of doctors.[40]
In mid–June 2022, Luxon announced that the National Party if elected into government would introduce several anti-gang legislation banning gang insignia in public spaces and social media platforms such asInstagram andTikTok, and giving the Police special powers to disperse gang gatherings, and preventing certain gang members from associating with each other or obtaining firearms. The National Party had unveiled its anti-gang policies at its Northern Regional Conference in response to heightened gang activity and conflict that year.[41][42]
In response, WaikatoMongrel Mob leader Sonny Fatupaito claimed that National's proposed policies would discriminate againstMāori andPasifika while criminologist Dr. Jarrod Gilbert suggested focusing on the gang's criminal activities. Despite supporting National's anti-gang policies, theACT Party's firearms law reform and justice spokeswomanNicole McKee expressed concern that legitimate firearms owners could be affected by some of the legislation.[43] Former National Party MP, cabinet minister, and police officerChester Borrows questioned the effectiveness of his party's proposed anti-gang policies, citing the failure of previous anti-gang insignia legislation inWhanganui.[44]
On 11 June, National announced that it would adopt several anti-gang policies include banning gang patches in public and giving Police the power to issue Firearms Prohibition Orders, dispersal notices, and "Consorting Prohibition" notices barring gang associates from associating with each other.[45]
On 18 June, Luxon and justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith announced that a National government would make gang membership an aggravating factor in criminal sentencing. The policy announcement came in response to a large gang presence inŌpōtiki during the funeral of a local Mongrel Mob leader that week. Police MinisterGinny Andersen described the policy as unnecessary, stating that existing legislation took into account gang membership when sentencing criminals.[46]
On 25 June, Luxon announced several law and order policies including limiting judges' ability to give sentencing discounts, scrapping "cultural reports" and the Labour Government's "prisoner reduction" target, and boosting investment in victim support funding and rehabilitation programmes for remand prisoners.[47]
In mid November 2022, Luxon announced that the National Party's youth crime policy would include:
Luxon stated that the policy was in response to a recent surge inram raids in 2022. He estimated that the youth justice police would cost NZ$25 million a year and would constitute part of National's social investment.[48][49]
National also confirmed that it would support placingankle bracelets on young offenders below the age of 17 years. In addition, Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith confirmed the Party would support a law change to fit young offenders below the age of 12 years with ankle bracelets.[50] National had earlier opposed theACT Party's policy of fitting juvenile offenders with ankle bracelets; with education spokespersonErica Stanford describing it as "heartbreaking."[51]
In response, Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern described National's proposed boot camp policy as a failure whileGreen Party co-leaderMarama Davidson described it as "absolutely disgusting."[52] The NZ Psychological Society described "forced" military boot camps as "draconian, oppressive, and ineffective."[53] Auckland youth development worker and advocate Aaron Hendry stated that boot camps failed to address recidivism and the causes of youth crime while Just Speak executive director Aphiphany Forward-Taua described the policy as lazy "politicking." By contrast, formerHamilton City councillor Mark Bunting opined that boot camps could help deal with high youth crime in theWaikato region and was a better alternative to sending youth offenders to prison.[54]
In early December 2022, a1News Kantar public opinion poll found that 60% of respondents supported National's military boot camp policy while 31% opposed it and 9% were undecided. The poll surveyed 1,011 eligible voters including mobile phone users and online panels. Those most likely to support the boot camp policy were National andACT voters, women aged 55 years and above, and Aucklanders. Those most opposed to the policy wereGreen voters, Wellingtonians,Labour voters, and those aged between 18 and 29 years.[55]
In August 2023, National's police spokespersonMark Mitchell confirmed that the Youth Offender Military Academies would be modeled after theNew Zealand Defence Force's six-week Limited Service Volunteer programme. Youth offenders would be able to undertake courses in numeracy, team-building, literacy and physical activities. He said that the Academies would last for one year and would be based at several military bases includingTrentham Military Camp inUpper Hutt,Whenuapai'sRNZAF Base Auckland, andBurnham Military Camp nearChristchurch. TheNew Zealand Herald reported that National had not been in contact with the Defence Force, which offered no comment on the boot camp policy.[56]
On 11 June, the party's science and technology spokesperson Judith Collins announced that National would end New Zealand's ban on genetic modification and establish a national biotechnology regulator if elected into government. This policy announcement was welcome by the ACT party and International Science Council president and biomedical scientist SirPeter Gluckman.[57]
On 7 July 2022, Luxon outlined the National Party's policies to combat youth unemployment during the party's annual conference inChristchurch. One key policy is redirecting funding from theMinistry of Social Development to supporting job coaches for young people under the age of 25 years who have been on the Jobseeker benefit for three months. Welfare beneficiaries who find a job and stay off the benefit for the next 12 consecutive months will receive NZ$1,000 for staying in the workforce. However, beneficiaries who do not follow their agreed plan will face "sanctions." Luxon claimed that the incumbent Labour Government's policies had caused the number of under 25s on welfare to increase by 34,000 (roughly 40%).[58][59]
On 30 August, Luxon and Willis announced National's tax plan during the 2023 general election, which they estimated would cost NZ$14.6 billion and consist of a combination of new taxes and cuts to public spending over the next four years. Key components include tax bracket adjustments, extending the upper eligibility limit of the "Independent Earner Tax Credit," introducing a childcare rebate through its "FamilyBoost" policy, and increasing the Working for Families tax credit from NZ$72.50 to NZ$97.50 weekly. As part of the tax plan, National proposed restoring interest deductibility for rental properties, cancelling the Government'sapp tax, Clean Car Discount, 20 hours of free early childhood education for under-two year olds, and cancelling the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax and other proposed fuel tax hikes. National also announced it would introduced a "climate dividend," which it claimed would yield NZ$2.3 billion annually. In addition, National announced that it would reduce back-office government spending in non-frontline services, and cut back on government consultants and contractors.[60][61]
In early September 2023, the Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong expressed concern that National's proposed 15% tax on foreign buyers could breach New Zealand's bilateral trade agreements with China. In response, National's tax expert Robin Oliver said that National's proposed tax would not discriminate against Chinese buyers on the grounds of nationality, and defended New Zealand's right to impose taxes on anyone. The Labour Party's finance spokesperson and cabinet ministerGrant Robertson claimed that New Zealand citizens living overseas for extended periods could be taxed as well.[62]
On 16 July 2023, Luxon announced that National if elected at the 2023 general election would create a NZ$500 million Pothole Repair Fund to repair local roads and state highways.[63][64]
On 31 July 2023, Luxon announced that a National government would spend NZ$24 billion on transportation including building 13 new roads of "national significance" including four-lane highways, investing in three new bus "transport corridors" in Auckland, upgrading the lowerNorth Island's railway infrastructure, and investing in road infrastructure in both the North andSouth Islands. Luxon had earlier proposed creating aNational Infrastructure Agency to coordinate government funding, promote investment, and improve funding, procurement and delivery.[65][66] In response, Transport MinisterDavid Parker questioned National's cost estimates for its transportation policy while the Green Party's transportation spokespersonJulie Anne Genter claimed that National's proposed road policies would worsen pollution and congestion.[66][65]
On 24 September, Transport spokespersonSimeon Brown said that National would reverse the Government's "blanket speed limit reductions" and restoring highway and local roads' speed limits to 100 km and 50 km respectively.[67]
Following theSupreme Court of New Zealand's landmarkMake It 16 Incorporated v Attorney-General, the party's Justice spokespersonPaul Goldsmith stated that National would not be supporting lowering the voting age on the grounds that it regarded the current voting age of 18 years as appropriate. Goldsmith described the Labour Government's support for introducing legislation lowering the voting age as a distraction from youth crime.[68]
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1965–present |
