After just two days, Labour leader Chris Hipkins has already labelled the new government a “coalition of chaos” and believes Winston Peters has “no respect” for the Prime Minister.
Hipkins’ comments come after the Deputy PM suggested the media took "bribes" from the Government — as well as appearing to suggest TVNZ and RNZ could fall under the new Government’s remit that Crown Entities communicate primarily in English.
Things got awkward at a Cabinet photo opportunity yesterday when Peters told reporters to “tell the public what you had to sign up to to get the money”.
“It’s called transparency.”
When asked about Chris Hipkins comments at his post-Cabinet media conference this afternoon, Christopher Luxon said he hadn't seen them.
The topic quickly became part of Luxon's first post-Cabinet press conference, Benedict Collins reports. (Source: 1News)
"No I haven't actually seen what he's said, I've been sort of focused on sorting the government out," he said.
Asked about Hipkins' comments that Luxon needed to "rein in Peters", Luxon said he wasn't taking any lectures from Hipkins.
Luxon also said Peters wasn't "giving direction" with his remarks about RNZ and TVNZ.
Opposition leader Hipkins said at a news conference at Parliament today: “I said during the election campaign that I was concerned a National/New Zealand First/ACT government would be a coalition of chaos.
“I wasn’t quite expecting them to prove it so spectacularly so soon.”
He said Peters' recent comments about the media were “just wrong” and that Luxon needed to “show that he is actually the Prime Minister and stamp down on that very quickly”.
“The comments that his ministers make are his responsibility.”
Referencing Peters’ comments at the Cabinet table, Hipkins said: “It is wrong for Winston Peters to be stepping outside the Cabinet manual at the very meeting that they were supposed to be confirming the Cabinet manual.”
He also doubled down on comments he made on Breakfast this morning, suggesting that Peters could be “breaking the law”.
“The Prime Minister needs to show some leadership, make it clear to Winston Peters that it is unacceptable, and make sure that stops.”
Based on the Deputy PM's comments, Hipkins believed Peters has “no respect” for the Prime Minister.
“I’m not entirely clear that Christopher Luxon is really in control of whats going on within the Government.
“We’re only a couple of days in. It does not bode well for the future.”
He also slammed National’s plan to roll back New Zealand’s smokefree laws.
He said the Government has “no moral compass guiding them”, labelling the rollback as an “international embarrassment.”
“The first major international headlines that this government has attracted are around their decision to increase the number of New Zealanders who smoke cigarettes.”
“I think that's bad news for New Zealand.”
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