Venu Menon
Wellington, July 24,2023
“I’d like to think, right the way through this, that I have handled the situation fairly, with compassion, and with respect. I don’t believe that mental health should disqualify someone from employment, and it shouldn’t disqualify someone from employment in this building, and it has not done in the past,” Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said.
He was addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting following the resignation of Kiri Allan as Justice Minister today.
Hipkins added: “Ultimately, people can make politics of this [Allan’s resignation], which appears to be what they are doing. I think they should think about the message that that sends to other people in New Zealand who are struggling with their mental health.
“If the message is that someone who confesses or reveals that they’re struggling with mental health should be immediately sacked, I think that’s going to make the problem worse rather than better.”
The Prime Minister said that Allan had been receiving support. “She was in a much better space. Had I been able to foresee this [the events leading up to her resignation], of course there would have been more things that we might have been able to do. I don’t have a crystal ball any more than anyone else does.”
To a query that he lacked political management given that four ministers had left under his watch, Hipkins responded by pointing out that “they’re all different, and there’s different reasons for all of them.”
“In every one of those instances, I’ve made decisions based on the information that was available at the time. Obviously, if more information comes to light, then I’ll revise my decisions. I like to think that I make decisions based on information and evidence. I believe, in all of those instances, further things happened.”
Hipkins said professional support had been arranged for Allan and that one of the conditions of her going back to work was that she would continue with that professional support.
He said a decision was pending on whether Allan would continue in her role as an MP [for East Coast].
The Prime Minister stressed that mental health was “a very difficult area, and I think the experiences of the last few weeks clearly demonstrate that.”
Allan’s ministerial portfolios were reallocated to other ministers, with Ginny Andersen becoming the Minister of Justice. Hipkins said aligning the justice and police portfolios was important in “progressing the legislation that we announced last week around ram raids, to ensure that young offenders face more accountability for their crimes.”
The PM announced that Kieran McAnulty would have dual responsibility of the portfolios of Regional Development as well as Rural Communities, while Grant Robertson would take over the lead coordination role for the Tai Rawhiti region, along with his role in support of the communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle. Barbara Edmonds will take over the revenue portfolio from David Parker to “free him up to focus on the transport role.”
“With only five sitting weeks until the House rises for the election, I’ve decided not to bring any new Ministers into Cabinet,” the PM said.
There are currently 25 Ministers in the government.
“Our focus must be on the issues that matter to New Zealanders, like the cost of living and law and order,” the Prime Minister noted.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
