Notes From The PM’s Post Cabinet Press Conference: Agenda For The Week - Dover’s Replacement
Agenda for the Week Ahead
Prime Minister Helen Clark:
Agenda for the Week Ahead: Announcements on Arts (Heart of the Nation release) and WINZ on Tuesday. Hospices on
Wednesday. Modern Apprenticeships Thursday.
Dover Samuel’s Replacement
Prime Minister Helen Clark:
Next Tuesday PM will take a nomination to Cabinet for from the Labour Caucus for a new member of Cabinet to replace
Dover Samuels.
Yes the PM did have a conversation with John Tamihere at the weekend. “All sorts of things were discussed”, including
his candidacy for a role in Cabinet.
The PM said the ballot would be conducted on her nomination.
And if she lost?
Then the party will be looking for a new leader. The rule says that where a casual vacancy arises the PM will nominate
and that candidate will be voted up and down.
Will any more ministers be appointed outside cabinet?
The number of Ministers and under secretaries outside Cabinet will be determined by the PM. And no she does not expect
to elevate any more minister’s outside cabinet.
Will the person elected by appointed Maori Affair’s Minister?
Yes. I am not in the running.
Will she continue to chair the Closing the Gaps committee?
Yes.
Was consideration given to Alliance Minister Sandra Lee becoming the Minister of Maori Affairs?
Jim Anderton expressed an interest in the position being Given to Sandra Lee. And as I have said before Mr Anderton and
I agreed that it was the Labour Party that had received the mandate from Maoridom and so it should be a Labour member
that was Minister of Maori Affairs.
Should all convictions against MP’s be declared publicly?
Clearly 63% of the public think so. The question is how. In the end questions like that can be asked during the campaign
and in the final analysis anyone who wants to stand for Parliament has to be prepared to answer such questions.