Did Melissa Lee fail to consult Winston Peters?
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee has come under pressure amid accusations of not properly consulting coalition partners before bringing a proposal to Cabinet.
NZ First leader Winston Peters has called journalists “ungrateful”, saying his is the only party with a media strategy.
The media sector is anxious to hear whether the Government will support or introduce new legislation as hundreds of media workers face redundancy.
New Zealand First leader, and deputy prime minister, Winston Peters has labelled journalists “ungrateful” despite his party’s stated commitment to a strong fourth estate as an anxious media industry awaits news of what - if any - governmental support it will get.
Newsroom reported on Wednesday that Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee had failed to properly consult with NZ First, one of the three parties in the coalition government, before bringing a proposal paper to Cabinet.
This meant the paper had to be withdrawn while due process was established.
Lee did not respond directly to questions from Stuff about why correct procedure was not followed or the content of the paper, but said: “My Cabinet paper to support this work programme is currently going through a consultation process. Given this process is underway, I am unable to discuss the process or the details of the paper at this stage.”
She had earlier suggested she would consider a number of options, including updating the Broadcasting Act, and considering the Digital News Bargaining Bill, which would force the likes of Google and Facebook to pay for the local content they repurpose.
Asked whether the proposal had been progressed to Cabinet prematurely, Peters said: “When things happen sometimes, it's often due to due to over-exuberance on the part of staff members, not to condemn them, and a certain stage in the process is overlooked.”
He claimed NZ First was the only party to have a media policy going into the 2023 election.
“I know I’m dealing with a whole lot of ungrateful people in particular, but we are concerned for the fourth estate, and that it stays alive in our democracy. Without it, we cannot be a democracy.”
His comments echo those of coalition partner ACT’s leader David Seymour, who accused journalists of displaying “enormous self-pity” and “a delightful lack of self-awareness” in the wake of threats of mass redundancies.
Lee, a new minister, has been under steadily increasing pressure since Three owner Warner Bros Discovery announced it would shutter Newshub operations, just months after she took office.
Weeks later, TVNZ announced it would drastically reduce its news and current affairs output, axing its midday and evening news bulletins as well as Sunday and beloved, long-running current affairs show Fair Go.
It was later revealed that Lee had been warned about potential job losses months before.
Lee has largely shunned the media in the intervening weeks, refusing almost all requests for interview.
Speaking to reporters on the way to Parliament’s sitting session today, Lee said: “I don't think I've become avoiding you. I have been stopped by other people. And I'm here answering questions.“
Both Newshub and TVNZ are undertaking consultation processes with staff affected by the proposed cuts. Both are expected to conclude in the coming weeks.