Subj : Lee axed as media minister, Simmonds stripped of disability portfolio
To   : All
From : News
Date : Wed Apr 24 2024 12:55 pm

Melissa Lee has been relieved of the role of Media and Communications
Minister, while Penny Simmonds has also lost her disabilities portfolio.


Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has explained the change by saying due to
significant challenges in each portfolio they should be held by senior
Cabinet ministers.


It follows controversies and pressure in both ministers' portfolios in recent
months.


Paul Goldsmith with take over from Lee, and Louise Upston will take over for
Simmonds.


"It has become clear in recent months that there are significant challenges
in the media sector. Similarly, we have discovered major financial issues
with programmes run by the Ministry of Disabled People," Luxon said in a
statement.


"I have come to the view it is important to have senior Cabinet Ministers
considering these issues."

He said there were "significant synergies" between the Arts, Culture and
Heritage portfolio and Media and Communications - the former being a
portfolio Goldsmith holds.


"The challenges facing our media are being seen all over the world. While
there are limited levers for Government here, I look forward to Paul
progressing work to ensure regulatory settings are appropriate to enable the
media to modernise and adapt to a changing media environment."


Luxon said as the Ministry of Disabled People was a departmental agency
within the Ministry of Social Development, he had asked Louise Upston to take
responsibility for the Disabilities Issues portfolio.


"This will free Penny Simmonds up to focus on the Environment portfolio and
the major changes she is progressing to improve tertiary education.


"Given the changes, Melissa Lee will move outside of Cabinet. Climate Change
and Revenue Minister Simon Watts will move into Cabinet."


In the wake of Newshub's closure and job losses and show cuts at TVNZ, Lee
had been put under pressure to come up with a plan for the media.


Labour's Willie Jackson, the former broadcasting minister, had called her
"bereft of any ideas or strategies" about what to do about a sector in
decline.


New rules on funding for funding for equipment, modification support and
services due to financial pressure had caused upset in the disabled community
- both with the changes and the manner in which they were communicated by the
Ministry of Disabled People (Whaikaha).

Simmonds had been criticised for saying funds were being used for massages,
overseas travel and pedicures for carers.


The Prime Minister is due to speak on the issue at 1pm today, which will be
livestreamed on 1News.co.nz.

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