Andrew Bayly apologises after person claims they were called a 'loser’, told to ‘f… off’

Friday, 18 October 2024

The Minister for Small Business apologises for telling an export worker to F off and repeatedly calling them a loser. While he says it was a joke, the worker felt humiliated. The Prime Minister says the Minister has fallen short of expectations.

Andrew Bayly has apologised for offending a person who alleges the minister responsible for small businesses told them to “f… off” and called them a “loser” during a business visit.

The government released the letter from the complainant and Bayly’s apology on Friday afternoon. The complainant wrote they thought Bayly was intoxicated, which Bayly - who is also the MP for Port Waikato denies.

The worker outlined their interaction with Bayly in a letter released by the government. Bayly rejects that he swore at the worker, and when asked if he called the person a “loser” he said he meant the comments in a light-hearted manner.

Minister for small business Andrew Bayly has apologised after a brief interaction where an individual took offence. Bayly states it was unintentional and has also apologised to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

“Obviously people have different perceptions of what went on but but I don’t want to get into who said what,” he said.

In the letter, the worker alleges Bayly told him: “Take a bottle of wine and go home, go on, go home … take some wine and f… off.”

“What followed next was both shocking and humiliating. He called me a ”loser“ repeatedly, saying the reason I was still was work was because I am a ”loser“.

“He turned to the group of people with him at the time, including my boss, the minister’s assistant and marketing staff, and … employees and formed an ‘L’ with his fingers on his forehead.

“He then continued to call me a ”loser“ over and over, clearly trying to amuse the group at my expense,” they wrote.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon still has confidence in Port Waikato MP, Andrew Bayly, a spokesperson says. (File photo)

Bayly wrote a letter apologising to the person.

“I got it wrong and I deeply regret this,” he wrote. “I am sorry”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon still has confidence in Bayly, but that he is disappointed with his conduct.

“He fell well short of the professional standards of behaviour I expect from Ministers. He has apologised, both to the person concerned and to me, and has given me his assurances that it won’t happen again,” he said in a statement.

However Labour Party leader, Chris Hipkins, said it was the latest in a “string of instances” where Luxon has “failed to show leadership on poor behaviour by his ministers”.

“As Prime Minister he is not enforcing the standards he himself demanded from Opposition.”

Bayly visited a number of businesses around the country in the lead up to his apology letter, dated October 11, according to his ministerial diary.

One of those companies was Smart Machines, based in Blenheim. Its chief executive Andrew Kersley said had heard some “tidbits” but that he wasn’t there on the day of Bayly’s visit and did not want to comment.

Bayly was also expected to visit Flip Farm and Wineworks, also in Blenheim.