Three of the five members on the Ministerial Advisory Group for victims of retail crime have resigned in recent weeks, with one saying she could no longer work with the chairperson Sunny Kaushal.
The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for victims of retail crime was established in July 2024, with Kaushal appointed chairperson.
It was intended to engage directly with victims, workers, business owners, retail experts, and advocacy groups and provide the Government specific proposals to address "urgent challenges" in retail crime.
Today, Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young told 1News she quit after deciding she could no longer work alongside Kaushal.
"It's fair to say it's been a really difficult environment for me, and I've had personal attacks that have come in from both Sunny and some wider groups he's associated with and that's made it really difficult and untenable really to stay," she said.
Young said the advisory group lacked a strategic plan and instead became dominated by Kaushal’s personal proposals.
“The ideas put forward are Sunny’s ideas,” she said.
“They’re not new, and I don’t think they’re widely supported. We were doing isolated pieces of work without any foundation for what we wanted to achieve.”
Asked if Kaushal was the right person to lead the group, Young replied: “From my personal opinion, no. His input is important, but I don’t know that he’s the right person.”
In a statement, Kaushal said it was well known that he and Young had different views on some of the group's recommendations.
"I wish Carolyn well. I've always appreciated her perspective."
On the wider resignations, Kaushal said they reflect normal leadership movement in any organisation.
"Members hold other senior roles, and when business demands increase, or people step into new appointments, they sometimes need to step back from external commitments."
He said the work of the advisory group would continue and it has a busy year ahead.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed other advisory board members had also left.
“Due to external commitments and job changes, Carolyn Young, Michael Bell and Lindsay Rowles have recently resigned from the Ministerial Advisory Group.
“I thank them for their work and wish them well in their next endeavours."
Goldsmith said the group had been incredibly busy over the past 12 months generating detailed policy proposals including around wider citizen's arrest powers and a shoplifting infringement regime.
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