$1500 for lunch with PM
Labour says conference access bears no comparison to National’s controversial Cabinet Club, writes Andrea Vance.
Labour is charging wealthy business figures $1500 a head to lunch with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at its annual conference later this month.
The event mirrors the ‘cashfor-access’ Cabinet Club scandal which engulfed the National Government in 2014.
Labour, the Greens and NZ First slammed National for selling democracy when they encouraged supporters to give donations of up to $10,000 in order to rub shoulders with senior ministers.
Although the fundraisers don’t break any rules, critics argue it gives corporate movers and shakers and lobbyists access that is not available to the public.
On the weekend beginning
November 29, around 800 delegates will gather at the Whanganui War Memorial Centre, for the convention.
Also on the guest list are a select number of business figures, who will spend the day at a business conference and lunch with Ardern.
Eight MPs will give presentations and all MPs are invited. The Sunday Star-Times understands Education Minister Chris Hipkins and Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi are expected to attend.
Kirk Hope, the head of advocacy group Business NZ, will also give a speech.
As the party moves into election year, it is looking to boost its campaign war chest. Faced with a slump in business confidence, the Government is also keen to schmooze the corporate world.
But a party source pointed out Ardern has attended only a handful of fundraisers since she was elected in 2017. Between 2008 and May 2014, then Prime Minister Sir John Key took part in 53 Cabinet Clubs with big-dollar backers.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also been invited to attend Labour’s oneday conference, at no cost.
Journalists and diplomats are also regular attendees at the weekend-long convention.
Labour general secretary Andre Anderson said it was important for the party to listen and talk to business leaders.
‘‘We have invited a number of NGOs to attend as well for free to contribute their perspective.
‘‘The prime minister will only be attending during the lunch break in her capacity as Labour leader.’’
That’s an important distinction, as the Cabinet Manual states: ‘‘Holding ministerial office is regarded as a full-time occupation and is remunerated as such. Accordingly . . . accepting additional payment for doing anything that could be regarded as a ministerial function is not permissible’’.
Anderson said numbers for the business conference were yet to be finalised.
Asked about comparisons with Cabinet Clubs, he said: ‘‘People paid a subscription fee for Cabinet Club which gave them access to ministers over the course of a year. National branches organised hundreds of Cabinet Club events during their nine years in office . . . A one-off business conference bears no comparison.
‘‘The event is completely within the rules. MPs interact with business and NGOs all the time as part of their job.’’
Last year, Finance Minister Grant Robertson came under fire for giving a post-Budget speech at a $600 dinner hosted at an exclusive city club.
And Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who called Cabinet Clubs ‘‘elitist’’, charged $350 for dinner with him at the offices of a top law firm.
National leader Simon Bridges has said his party dumped Cabinet Club events in the wake of the scandal.