Shearer reveals Labour's new shadow-Cabinet lineup

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Labour's new lineup

3News NZ

Labour Leader David Shearer (Photo: Lloyd Burr/3 News)

Labour Leader David Shearer (Photo: Lloyd Burr/3 News)

Labour leader David Shearer has unveiled his new shadow-Cabinet lineup at a press conference this afternoon.

MPs Annette King, Phil Twyford and David Clark have shot up the party’s rankings, while Trevor Mallard and Lianne Dalziel have been bumped out of the top 20.

Mr Shearer says the shuffle is a mix of “fresh talent and experienced hands” and those being demoted “understand the importance of renewal for political parties”.

Unranked Mr Clark flies up the ranks to number 12 with the Economic Development and Small Business portfolios, taking on the Government’s ‘everything minister’ Steven Joyce.

Former deputy leader and Health Minister Annette King has returned to the front bench in sixth place with the responsibility for health.

“[She is] passionate and formidable and will do a fantastic job of standing up for Kiwi’s access to quality healthcare,” Mr Shearer says.

Ms King’s housing responsibilities have been allocated to Mr Twyford, who jumps three places to number eight.

The party’s chief whip Chris Hipkins has ousted Nanaia Mahuta from her education role but Ms Mahuta stays in the top 20.

Shane Jones has a place reserved for him on the front bench provided he is exonerated in the Auditor General’s investigation over his granting a Chinese millionaire citizenship while associate immigration minister.

If cleared, Mr Jones will take on Regional Development and Forestry portfolios as well as Associate Finance responsibilities.

Deputy leader Grant Robertson will lead a team of MPs setting out Labour’s job creation plan with a Jobs and Employment portfolio.

David Parker keeps his number three spot, holding on to finance and adding shadow-Attorney General responsibilities.

“There is no one else in this Parliament who has the depth of understanding of the challenges we are facing,” says Mr Shearer. “[He] will make a superb Finance Minister.”

Mr Clark takes on the Economic Development portfolio, while former Housing spokesperson Annette King picks up the Health portfolio.

Jacinda Ardern keeps her Children and Social Development portfolios and stays at number four.

Maryan Street, despite being stripped of the Health portfolio, stays in the shadow-Cabinet, picking up the Environment portfolio.

Andrew Little – Labour’s former party president – and Megan Woods have each picked up portfolios and entered the top 20.

Mr Little takes on Justice and will go head-to-head with Prime Minister John Key with his Tourism portfolio.

Ms Woods picks up Tertiary Education, while continuing to support Mr Shearer on Science and Innovation.

Sue Moroney picks up the ACC portfolio, Ian Lees-Galloway takes Transport and Chris Fa’afoi has been allocated Corrections.

David Cunliffe is back in the ranks - although out of the top 20 - following an unsuccessful attempt at challenging the party’s leadership, picking up the Revenue and Fisheries portfolios, along with Associate Finance.

This gives him the “opportunity to play a constructive role in the Labour team”, Mr Shearer says.

“These decisions have been driven by the need for us to be firmly focussed on the crucial challenges facing New Zealand,” Mr Shearer said.

These challenges include jobs, growing the economy, providing a world class education for children, housing affordability, protecting the health of Kiwis and giving them the opportunity to get ahead, he said.

“The Government’s hands-off approach to these issues has failed; job losses are mounting, people are leaving in droves, housing is unaffordable, the education system is in turmoil and too many children are in poverty.

“It’s time for a change,” says Mr Shearer.

“We will hold National to account, but you will hear more from us this year on what we will do in Government. We will be hands on, we will be innovative and positive.”

Labour's shadow-Cabinet:

  1. David Shearer - Party Leader, Security Intelligence Service, Science and Innovation
  2. Grant Robertson - Deputy Leader, Employment, Skills and Training, Arts Culture and Heritage
  3. David Parker - Finance, Attorney-General
  4. Jacinda Ardern - Social Development, Children, Associate Arts Culture and Heritage
  5. Clayton Cosgrove - SOEs, Commerce, Trade Negotiations, Associate Finance
  6. Annette King - Health
  7. Shane Jones - REgional Development, Forestry, Associate Finance (pending final Aud-Gen)
  8. Phil Twyford - Housing, Auckland Issues, Associate Environment
  9. Maryan Street - Environment, Disarmament and Arms Control, Associate Foreign Affairs
  10. Chris Hipkins - Education, Senior Whip
  11. Nanaia Mahuta - Youth Affairs, Maori Development, Associate Education
  12. David Clark - Economic Development, Small Business
  13. Sue Moroney - ACC, Early Childhood Education, Women's Affairs
  14. Su'a William Sio - Local Government, Pacific Island Affairs, Inter Faith Dialogue, Associate Foreign Affairs
  15. Phil Goff – Foreign Affairs and Trade, State Services, Defence
  16. Darien Fenton – Labour (including Health and Safety), Immigration, Associate Arts, Culture and Heritage
  17. Damien O’Connor – Primary Industries, Food Safety
  18. Clare Curran – Communications and Information Technology, Broadcasting, Open Government, Associate Economic Development
  19. Andrew Little – Justice, Tourism
  20. Megan Woods – Tertiary Education, Associate Science and Innovation, Associate Transport (Christchurch)

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Comments

26/02/2013 7:59:47 a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Shearer was right to shift Street and Mahuta to the back bench and bring Hipkins and Twyford forward. But if he bringing back King indicates that he might be short on talent elsewhere in caucus which does not bode well. In my view King is part of the old guard and needs to retire.

26/02/2013 5:48:06 a.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

Mr Shearer had to do something considering the latest poll result. He has indicated already that there are positions for some Green party members in Cabinet should they win the next election. Demoting Lianne Dalzielwho is a tireless worker in Christchurch and not promoting one of the best 'attack speakers' David Cunliffe will not help Labour and they will rely on a coalition partner, possibly two. In reality the choice for the electorate is either BRAND KEY versus BRAND NANNY STATE.

25/02/2013 11:19:52 p.m.

Kim wrote:

Oh give me a break. When i see a 10000+ random (and i mean truely random) poll that puts Key with a lead outside the margin of error. Then i would be worried. this is 1 poll out of the last 5-6 that have given national any advancement. its just smoke.

25/02/2013 10:23:36 p.m.

Kathy wrote:

lol so Christopher is posting now under three names... Chris, Christopher and I hate Labour... multiple personalities much? And then when he goes rabid it gets even worse... thats one scarey dude. National are going up in the polls because there are more and more working class people living in their cars along the state motorways with their families or in garages where polls dont reach Dane. But wow.. christopher needs to start taking his Lithium.

25/02/2013 10:05:10 p.m.

Ian Goldsmith wrote:

Looks like a good line-up

25/02/2013 9:15:48 p.m.

Sal wrote:

"This gives him the “opportunity to play a constructive role in the Labour team”, Mr Shearer says." Oh really. What an arrogant and insulting remark. David Cunliffe is Labour's brightest and most talented parliamentarian. A new line up which shows childish vendettas and tall poppy syndrome are still alive and well in the Labour Party.

25/02/2013 6:48:21 p.m.

Mark wrote:

Shearer when talking to Larry on News talk ZB the evening about the re-shuffle and mentioned that 'Jacinda Adhern was voted the sexiest MP as well' ??? whats that got to do with anything ?? and then he laughed lecherously. Good grief. The main is a sexist creep and he just lost half the voting population.

25/02/2013 6:43:43 p.m.

Erm... wrote:

So funny seeing the media folk from Labour posting comments here...

25/02/2013 6:19:01 p.m.

I HATE LABOUR wrote:

Really it does not matter what Labour does as normal voting and thinking Kiwis are becoming more aware of the destructive nature of socialism as practiced by promoted by the left here. 'Socialists' are not worried about 'your fellow man' you are just worried about yourselves. Socialism is based on entitlement but as we know, socialism is calculational chaos. Rational appraisement and allocation are eternally elusive. It is a gigantic negative-sum game in which each player quickly grabs a piece of the pie, and all the while the pie shrinks before the players' eyes. The welfare state, the interventionist state, is no improvement. Each intervention begets yet another. Welfare bureaucracy is the only 'industry' guaranteed to experience growth. Each new regulation taxes the private sector, relentlessly shifting resources out of the hands of the productive, and into the hands of the unproductive. With socialism you soon run out of other peoples money. Capitalism is the only positive-sum ideology.

25/02/2013 5:41:55 p.m.

Dane wrote:

Kathy, dead right, but just explain why the Nats are so high in the polls, and the left all going down.