Giles
Dexter Political reporter
Christopher
Luxon has caught his caucus off-guard with a seemingly
off-the-cuff campaign promise to hold
a referendum on the MMP voting system if
re-elected.
On Newstalk ZB on Thursday morning,
the National leader said a referendum
on MMP was “something we should consider” and he wanted
to see it happen next year.
“I actually think it’s
quite right to check-in constitutionally and say, is this
the system New Zealanders still want … is it still where
you want to be?” he said.
The announcement certainly
took his coalition colleagues ACT and New Zealand First by
surprise, but it also appears his National colleagues were
unaware as well.
On their way into the House on
Thursday afternoon, Luxon’s National colleagues would not
say whether they knew he was going to announce the
policy.
Louise Upston said the prime minister was
“reflecting a conversation” that many people were having
around potential changes to MMP.
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Asked whether she
knew Luxon was going to make those comments on Thursday
morning, she repeated he was reflecting conversations that
were had with constituents.
“Well,
there’ll be lots of things that I don’t know what the prime
minister is going to say. He is the prime minister. He’s
been out engaging with the public, reflecting what the
conversations are.”
Tama Potaka said what the prime
minister said was up to the prime minister, and his focus
was on serving the people of Hamilton West.
He would
not say if the caucus had endorsed the policy.
“What
goes on tour stays on tour, and it’s the same with the
caucus.”
Simon Watts said the position had been
“outlined clearly” by Luxon.
Asked whether it was
National Party policy before 9am on Thursday morning, Watts
said he had been doing speeches all day and was not involved
in the timing.
“But I’ve seen the announcement, and
that’s consistent from where we are.”
But National’s
campaign chair Simeon Brown said it was not a formal
announcement.
“He
was on radio giving a view, and that’s great.”
Brown
said National had long been open about having a conversation
on a four-year term, which “raises other questions” around
New Zealand’s electoral system.
“The prime minister
was saying very clearly, if you’re going to have that
conversation, you know, every 20 years or so, we also have a
conversation around the type of electoral system that we
have as a country as well.”
He would not answer
questions on whether a referendum on MMP was National Party
policy, or whether it had been discussed in caucus.
As
justice minister, Paul Goldsmith would be responsible for
legislating the referendum.
Like Brown, he said it was
“pretty obvious” National was interested in a four-year
term, and it “probably makes sense” to look at MMP at the
same time.
“We always talk about constitutional
reform,” he said.
Goldsmith was not sure if it was an
announcement from the prime minister, saying Luxon was
simply answering a question.
Mark Mitchell said it was
not something that was relevant to this election.
“But
certainly, if we’re successful in being returned to
government, then it’s something to talk about in the next
term.”
It
was put to Mitchell that if it was something to be talked
about next term, then it was relevant to this
election.
He then admitted he had not seen the prime
minister’s comments.
“I know that he has made a
comment and he has shared his opinion around the fact that
he thinks the country should have a chance to be able to
have a say on MMP, and he’s been, from what I understand,
he’s been very clear about the fact that would not happen
this term.”
Speaking at the government’s announcement
on new industry-led subjects for secondary schools,
National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis said the party had
“previously reflected” that it thought a four-year term was
a good idea, and the prime minister had “expressed interest
in getting feedback” on MMP.
“I was aware that these
were views that he held and that we’ve discussed in our
caucus, and that we’ve discussed with everyday New
Zealanders whose doors we knock on and whose businesses we
visit.”
Coalition partners respond to “yahoo or
numpty” comments
During his interview, Luxon made the
case for wanting as many National ministers in Cabinet as
possible.
“The question is, I keep saying, I don’t
need some yahoo or numpty from some other party around that
table. I can do a lot more to get the centre-right agenda,
centre being the operative word, done and out the door so
think about your vote, November 7. It’s important.”
He
then denied that he was referring to his coalition partners
as yahoos and numpties.
Deputy Prime Minister David
Seymour said that sort of commentary did not help New
Zealand, but put in a dig of his own.
“I don’t want to
be pointing the finger at them, but it’s a simple fact that,
you know, he’s had to move on at least five of his own
ministers for different reasons. So you know, it’s the old
thing, once you start throwing stones, sometimes you end up
finding the glass houses a bit shaky.”
Fellow
ACT minister Nicole McKee defended her party’s
performance.
“It’s not offensive to me. I’m going
about trying to do the work that New Zealanders want done,
that they voted us here to do. We are successful in that. I
think it reflects more on him than it does on those that are
actually achieving.”
McKee was in favour of keeping
MMP.
New Zealand First minister Casey Costello said
she was surprised by Luxon’s comments, and hoped he was not
talking about her.
“I hope he’s not. I wouldn’t think
so. Well, I hope it’s not New Zealand First, because I think
we’re doing a great job.”
Her leader Winston Peters
said previous referendums on MMP were “decisive”, and put
his foot down on any changes to the electoral
system.
“This is time for a parent-child
conversation here. We’re going to sort this out, all
right?”
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