Premier House upgrades will be ‘difficult’ but PM claims he did not say residence is condemned
Tuesday, 27 February 2024
PM Christopher Luxon and Sports Minister Chris Bishop hosted the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at Premier House in Thorndon, Wellington on Monday.
The house, where prime ministers usually live, is in need of renovations.
Luxon is not living there, he has chosen to stay in his Wellington apartment, where he will be able to claim up to $52,000 a year in a taxpayer-funded allowance.
It will be “difficult” for the Government to afford upgrades to Premier House, Christopher Luxon said, after rejecting reports he told an Australian cricketer the Thorndon residence where prime ministers live was “condemned”.
Luxon and Sport Minister Chris Bishop hosted the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at the property in the Wellington suburb of Thorndon on Monday.
Luxon was reported to have told Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja that Premier House was “condemned, the kitchen was condemned,” according to the AAP.
But Luxon rejected he said such a thing. 'No, it hasn't been, [and] that's not the language that I was used, or I was reported as using.“
He recounted the conversation differently.
'I was asked do I live in Premier House? And the answer is no, I don't. As you well know, Premier House has a long-standing maintenance issues. A report has been given to the former prime minister, that same report has been passed through to me, and the Government will consider what options we have available to make sure we can remedy any of the maintenance issues started there. Until then, I stay at my apartment.'
Luxon, who owns seven homes mortgage-free according to his financial declarations, has claimed the $31,000 annual accommodation allowance while living in his Wellington home as an MP and now, as prime minister, he can claim up to $52,000 a year while living outside of Premier House.
Luxon said there are “long-standing maintenance issues with the apartment there and with the house in general”.
“It's important because the report that [former prime minister] Chris Hipkins got and that he passed on to me, it obviously needs investment, how we can manage that in the times that we've got, the cost of living crisis, is difficult.'
Luxon and the National Party campaigned on cutting “wasteful” spending in the public service and on easing the high cost of living.