Summarised by Centrist
Political columnist Damien Grant argues that Christopher Luxon’s decision to sacrifice Bayly shows his obsession with media optics over real governance.
“Luxon could have chastised his minister for being an idiot while recognising the offence was trivial and the media reaction disproportionate. He didn’t,” Grant writes.
“He seems to care more about managing media coverage and TikTok,” he quips.
In contrast, according to Grant, former Prime Minister John Key stood by his ministers—even when they got into trouble. Key backed Murray McCully over a dubious Saudi sheep deal, supported Gerry Brownlee despite his airport security breach, and defended Nick Smith during his ACC controversy. According to Grant, Luxon, however, took the easy way out.
Bayly, who had been tasked with fixing ACC’s financial crisis, resigned rather than forcing Luxon into the uncomfortable position of firing a competent minister.
Grant states: “The speculation is that Andrew Bayly got frustrated with some mid-ranking ACC bureaucrat and, rumours differ, placed a hand on his shoulder or gave him a slight shove. Whatever. He shouldn’t have done it and an apology was in order; but to fire the only chap in your team capable enough to put out a fire because he got short with the guy holding the matches?”
Grant warns that Luxon himself is now in a precarious position. Public confidence is slipping. Grant suggests, “The path forward is clear—the one Andrew Bayly took.”
Editor’s note: The views expressed in this summary reflect the original article by Damien Grant and do not necessarily represent the position of Centrist. Our role is to provide an accurate and concise summary of the piece.
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