Christopher Luxon’s final post-Cabinet press conference of year

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will front the final post-Cabinet press conference of the year this afternoon.

A livestream of it will be found at the top of this page from about 4pm.

He’s expected to address the Government’s fourth quarterly action plan, speaking to what tasks ministers have successfully ticked off and any that may not be completed before the end of the year. This is the final sitting week for Parliament.

There are a couple of items on the list that have not been completed yet. Unfinished work includes passing the Fast-track Approvals Bill, though after going through a lengthy committee session in the House last week, it is expected to get its final reading this week.

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The plan to reverse the previous Government’s ban on oil and gas exploration may not happen by the end of the year, however.

The minister in charge, Shane Jones, told the Herald last week that while progress was being made, “there is a small slither of imprecise drafting” in the legislation that needs to be assessed. He said Crown Law was providing advice.

“If we can tidy up the oil and gas [legislation], we will give it a crack, but we will get to it.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will front Monday's post-Cabinet press conference. NZME photograph by Mark Mitchell

A large number of items were ticked off last week, including the Government introducing a raft of legislation — including to remove the GE ban and the second Resource Management Act Reform Bill. It also took decisions on road tolling and the future of the greyhound racing industry, published its second emissions reduction plan, and initiated another regulatory sector review into the hairdressing industry.

Luxon last week said he was “proud” of his Government’s action plans “because they focus the public service and they focus the Government”.

But deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said he didn’t follow “dashboard crap”, mentioning the likes of quarter-year and 100-point plans. He told the Herald he was referring to those produced under the previous Labour Government, but would not provide his opinion on those produced by the current Government.