Key Takeaways:
- Three members of the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime have resigned in the past month, citing an "unpleasant environment" and concerns about the group’s spending.
- The group’s chairman, Sunny Kaushal, remains in his position, despite criticism of his leadership and the group’s spending.
- The group has faced criticism for its spending, including on catered meetings and office space, with some questioning its value for money.
- The Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, has defended the group’s work and spending, saying it is necessary to address the issue of retail crime.
- The group’s effectiveness will be judged in time, with its key piece of work being recommendations to strengthen trespass laws.
Introduction to the Ministerial Advisory Group
The Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime was established to provide expert advice to the government on how to combat retail crime. The group is led by chairman Sunny Kaushal and has faced criticism for its spending and effectiveness. Recently, three members of the group have resigned, citing an "unpleasant environment" and concerns about the group’s spending. This has raised questions about the group’s leadership and its ability to effectively address the issue of retail crime.
Resignations from the Ministerial Advisory Group
The chief executive of Retail NZ, Carolyn Young, is one of the three members who have resigned from the group. She cited the group’s "very unpleasant environment" and concerns about the chairman’s leadership as reasons for her resignation. Young stated that her relationship with Kaushal had become untenable, and she felt that the group was not effectively addressing the issue of retail crime. Two other members, Lindsay Rowles and Michael Bell, have also resigned from the group, leaving only two members remaining.
Chairman’s Response to Resignations
Kaushal has responded to the resignations, stating that they reflect "normal leadership movement" in any organization. He said that the group remains focused on delivering practical, evidence-informed advice to improve safety for retailers and communities. However, Kaushal did not address questions about his leadership or the group’s spending. The Justice Minister, Paul Goldsmith, has also defended the group’s work and spending, saying that it is necessary to address the issue of retail crime.
Criticism of the Group’s Spending
The group has faced criticism for its spending, including on catered meetings and office space. The group has spent almost $24,000 on a series of 22 well-catered stakeholder engagement meetings around New Zealand, with some meetings costing over $4,000. The group has also leased a central Auckland office space for $100,000 a year, which has been criticized as excessive. Kaushal has defended the spending, saying that it is necessary to effectively address the issue of retail crime.
Effectiveness of the Group
The group’s effectiveness will be judged in time, with its key piece of work being recommendations to strengthen trespass laws. Young stated that she is not sure if the group’s work will make a significant difference to retail crime and providing protections to retail workers. The group has delivered five "legislative-ready major policy papers" addressing citizens’ arrests, strengthening trespass laws, and allowing retailers to use pepper spray to defend themselves. However, the ministry and the minister’s office have refused to release advice and recommendations from the group, including about trespass and "personal safety aides", which included pepper spray.
Conclusion
The resignations from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime have raised questions about the group’s leadership and effectiveness. The group’s spending has also been criticized, with some questioning its value for money. The Justice Minister has defended the group’s work and spending, saying that it is necessary to address the issue of retail crime. However, the group’s effectiveness will ultimately be judged in time, and it remains to be seen whether its recommendations will make a significant difference to retail crime and providing protections to retail workers.
