Ardern pumps brakes on Rainbow Ministry

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has dampened hopes of a Green MP’s vision for the so-called ‘‘Rainbow Ministry’’.

The comments came yesterday in response to Green rainbow issues spokesperson Jan Logie floating the idea last week.

Speaking at the Wellington Pride Festival launch, Logie said she thought a rainbow ministry, department, office or agency was a ‘‘good idea’’.

But Ardern said the responsibility for addressing the issues of the LGBTQIA+ community should sit across government, rather than in one agency. It was not ‘‘best pursued’’ by setting up an agency, ministry or department.

‘‘I think actually the responsibility for some of the issues we need to pursue exists within the Ministry of Justice, within the Department of Internal Affairs, within education, within health.’’

Logie said she agreed that responsibility sat across many parts of government, but there were already specialist representative organisations advising government on women, Ma¯ ori, Pacific peoples, youth, disability and seniors in various forms.

‘‘We need a plan to ensure our rainbow communities have a say in the decisions that affect our lives, and that our interests and needs are considered in policy, in practice, and in the Budget.’’

She said the Government needed to be able to access the expertise of the rainbow community, and for its groups to have a point of contact in government to go to for help and advice.