Lee axed as media minister, Simmonds stripped of disability portfolio
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 said the change is due to significant challenges in each portfolio which means 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.
Lee, an MP for nearly 16 years, has been axed as media minister by Christopher Luxon just months after being appointed to the role.
“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.”
The decision for the reshuffle was made without being requested by the outgoing ministers themselves, Luxon told media, saying "this was my decision".
"It's about the complexity that's innately in these issues, and you're gonna see me continue to do this. This is how I roll. This is how I lead. I make constant assessments.
"I'm in constant dialogue with my ministers. We talk about their performance, we talk about their support, we talk about their progress, we talk about the content of their issues. I've spoken with both ministers about that over several weeks and months.
"I've assessed that in both these cases, the agenda has moved got much more complex and we actually need more senior representation."
Additionally, the PM said Lee conveyed she was "disappointed" about the decision.
Penny Simmonds says some of the funding has been going towards carers rather than disabled people. (Source: 1News)
He said in the media release announcing the changes, that 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 disabilities portfolio, Simmonds oversaw the rollout of new rules on funding for equipment, modification support and services, causing upset in the disabled community, both with the changes and the manner in which they were communicated.
Simmonds had been criticised for saying funds were being used for massages, overseas travel and pedicures for carers.
Melissa Lee 'disappointed' over sacking - Luxon
The Prime Minister said Lee had been cut out of Cabinet as her reduced workload "doesn't warrant being" around the table. He told media: "That doesn't preclude Melissa from making it back into Cabinet at some future point either, frankly."
Luxon said: "I want to make sure I've got the right people on the right assignment."
In the wake of Newshub's closure 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.
Asked whether he thought she had done a good job in her media portfolio, Luxon said: "I think Melissa Lee is a good hard-working minister and a valuable member of our team."
The PM owned the decision, saying the two ministers demoted had not brought up workload concerns with him, adding that Lee was disappointed over the change.
"It's disappointing, certainly for Melissa, I get that and I understand that, and she played that back to me, and I fully understand it's a tough day in that regard.
"But ultimately, I know that they are good, hardworking ministers that I value. They've got a big contribution to make and the team with respect to the other portfolios and they still have my full confidence."
