Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Labour is doubling down on criticism of the minister's handling of disability funding changes, calling for her to be sacked.
It comes after Finance Minister Nicola Willis confirmed any further decisions the ministry makes on changing its criteria or funds will need to be properly consulted, and go to Cabinet.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins on Tuesday said that was a "massive vote of no confidence" in Disability Issues Minister Penny Simmonds, but took that a step further in a media release the next day.
"Christopher Luxon doesn't have faith in his Minister's decision making, so he can't have faith in her continuing to hold the portfolio or continue as a minister," he said.
"It is an extraordinary step and a massive vote of no confidence for Cabinet to intervene because a minister is failing to make decisions in her own portfolio ... Christopher Luxon should remove her as a minister altogether."
The prime minister has indicated all ministers should bring any decisions that may impact frontline services to Cabinet for a full discussion with all three coalition parties.
Simmonds has been under fire since her ministry, Whaikaha, unveiled changes last week to purchasing rules for disabled people's equipment, and respite funding.
Simmonds and Luxon have both acknowledged the changes were not communicated properly at the time.
Labour disabilities spokesperson Priyanca Radhakrishnan said the whole situation had been a debacle.
"Penny Simmonds was warned as far back as December that there were issues, did nothing, then signed off on changes that would hurt the disability community anyway," she said.
"She has blamed everyone but herself: Whaikaha - the Ministry of Disabled People, the previous government, and even the very carers who were losing the funding. I think that is disgraceful. The government should act immediately to fix Penny Simmonds' mess and reinstate funding flexibility for carers and the disabled community."
In the afternoon, Luxon clarified the directive for any further disability funding changes to go before Cabinet was not specific to Simmonds' portfolio.
"What we're making sure is just an expectation across all portfolios, where there are material and big changes in frontline services, those are conversations that should happen in Cabinet and they didn't happen in this case."
It was not a case of needing sign-off from coalition partners, but rather "more just the way that I want to operate - which is to ensure that where there are material changes that are going to impact New Zealanders, that actually we should have those conversations in Cabinet".
"That's just what I would expect of any Cabinet minister, to bring significant and material things to Cabinet for discussion."
Challenged by Hipkins in the House whether he still had confidence in Simmonds, Luxon said he did.
"All that we have said is that we expect major changes to front-line services across a range of portfolios that impact New Zealanders to be brought to Cabinet for a good discussion," Luxon said.
He acknowledged Simmonds had not brought the disability changes before Cabinet, but said "that is something the Minister has apologised for and she will do going forward ... the Minister has admitted that upfront, has learnt from that experience, and we're moving forward".
