Key Takeaways
- The ministerial advisory group for victims of retail crime has been criticized for spending almost $24,000 on well-catered meetings around New Zealand.
- The meetings, led by group chairman Sunny Kaushal, included expensive food items such as rock melon, goat’s cheese, and prosciutto crostini, as well as $9 bottles of Coke.
- The group’s spending has been defended by Kaushal, who claims that the meetings were necessary for stakeholder engagement and that the group is delivering change and running under budget.
- The spending has been questioned by Labour MPs, who believe that the money could be better spent on preventing crime and supporting the justice system.
- The advisory group was set up in 2024 to provide expert advice to the government on issues related to retail crime, and has delivered several policy papers addressing topics such as citizens’ arrests and trespass laws.
Introduction to the Advisory Group
The ministerial advisory group for victims of retail crime has faced criticism for its spending on meetings, with some questioning the necessity of expensive catering and venue hire. The group, led by chairman Sunny Kaushal, was set up in 2024 to provide expert advice to the government on issues related to retail crime. Despite the criticism, Kaushal has defended the group’s spending, claiming that the meetings were necessary for stakeholder engagement and that the group is delivering change and running under budget.
Criticisms of the Advisory Group’s Spending
The advisory group’s spending has been criticized by Labour MPs, who believe that the money could be better spent on preventing crime and supporting the justice system. Labour MP Duncan Webb questioned the spending on food at the meetings, stating that it sounded like Kaushal was spending government funding lavishly. Webb also believed that the money could be better spent on preventing crime and supporting the justice system, rather than on expensive catering and venue hire.
Defense of the Advisory Group’s Spending
Despite the criticism, Kaushal has defended the group’s spending, claiming that the meetings were necessary for stakeholder engagement and that the group is delivering change and running under budget. Kaushal stated that the group had delivered five "legislative-ready major policy papers" addressing topics such as citizens’ arrests, strengthening trespass laws, and allowing retailers to use pepper spray to defend themselves. He also claimed that the reforms were strong, practical, and evidence-based, and that the group was making a difference in the fight against retail crime.
Background on Ministerial Advisory Groups
Ministerial advisory groups have been set up to provide expert advice to the government on a range of issues, including aged-care funding, trans-national crime, and school property. These groups are expected to provide independent and impartial advice to the government, and are often made up of experts in the relevant field. The ministerial advisory group on transnational, serious, and organized crime, for example, was set up to provide advice on how to combat transnational crime, and included members with experience in government, law enforcement, regulation, and the private sector.
Conclusion
The ministerial advisory group for victims of retail crime has faced criticism for its spending on meetings, with some questioning the necessity of expensive catering and venue hire. However, the group’s chairman, Sunny Kaushal, has defended the spending, claiming that the meetings were necessary for stakeholder engagement and that the group is delivering change and running under budget. Despite the criticism, the group has delivered several policy papers addressing topics such as citizens’ arrests and trespass laws, and is continuing to work towards its goal of reducing retail crime in New Zealand. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the group’s spending and efforts will depend on the outcomes achieved and the value for money provided to taxpayers.
