National's Paul Goldsmith has accused Shane Jones of giving the Prime Minister "the middle finger" after referring to new Business Panel lead and Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon as a "celebrity".
When asked by RNZ today if he was calling Mr Luxon a celebrity appointment, Mr Jones said, "he is a celebrity, I'm stating a fact," during an interview on pushing Australian banks to provide regional services . However, he said he "thoroughly" supported the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister announced o n Tuesday Mr Luxon would lead the newly established Business Advisory Panel. Earlier this year Mr Jones criticised Air NZ and Mr Luxon over regional routes.
Mr Goldsmith said Mr Jones had "given the middle finger to the Prime Minister, whose Business Council, yet another working group, is a desperate attempt to be seen to be doing something".
"The Government's attempted charm offensive with a deeply concerned business community is now in tatters with one of the senior economic ministers at war with business leaders," Mr Goldsmith said in a statement.
"It's well past time for the Prime Minister to assert her leadership and discipline Mr Jones."
During the RNZ interview, Mr Jones told Morning Report: "When you are the Prime Minister and you hold that office, you can appoint who you like. I've got no time for celebrities in business.
"I have to say that Chris, who is a high-powered individual, he is obviously interested in politics, the Prime Minister has supported him and I will say nothing that is a note of dissent from the Prime Minister because I thoroughly support her."
Mr Jones used the example of Mr Luxon bringing former US President Barack Obama to New Zealand, and said it was business meeting celebrity culture.
"I'm from the provinces," Mr Jones said. "We will ensure that as we go forward he is surrounded by people that are of more earthy dimensions."
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