Mr Muldoon hints at possible Cabinet changes

Press, 27 December 1980, Page 4

Mr Muldoon hints at possible Cabinet changes

PA Auckland The New Year could see changes in the Cabinet, and the. Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) made it clear yesterday that some Ministers might be dismissed.

However, the decision will hinge on What members 7 'of the-Government caucus feel about a change and there will have to be overwhelming support before any moves are made. Mr Muldoon has invited caucus members to submit -their ideas on possible Cabinet changes. Sb far he has received about 10 replies. He said yesterday. that he had his own ideas and, if there was general support for changes; "i/kriow what I would do.” yif .!• feel that , there is overwhelming support in the Cabinet for a change, then I know what I would do," he said.-. - . ■

have tended to lean on the side of. not making changes at this time, but a lot of our chaps: do want to see changes.” Mr Muldoon said that there had so far been a “total lack of . unanimity” from his colleagues about the issde. There had been no consensus on whether there should be a major reshuffle, a minor one, or even one at all. ■ ■ ■

It was usually better not to consider Cabinet changes

in an election, year because new Ministers did not have enough time to pick up the I threads of a new job. But it. •was something that would be decided after members of the caucus had had their say and. if changes were to be made, it would be “a very; very hard jig-saw puzzle to put together.” Mr Muldoon was not giving any secrets away, but said he had given the issue serious thought during the last few dayi&rTf changes were made, the jobs of one or- two Cabinet Ministers could be on the lirie.

He said he was “pretty relaxed, not too excited,” oyer the prospect ,of Cabinet changes, but agreed that some of his Ministers might be having a nervous Christmas.'' y- ■; Any changes in the Cabinet would be dealt with : . at the same' time as the selec-: tion of' the deputy ; leader which was some time in February. ■ Mr Muldoon said choice, the Minister of 'Agriculture (Mr Maclntyre)-had "the majority of support” when Parliament rose. If for some reason Mr Maclntyre

was a "non-starter.” he would prefer to work with either.. , the , Minister s of Labour (Mr Bolger) or. the Minister of Energy •< (Mr Birch)./ ' t • The.i other Minister who has „ shown interest in. the position, 7 the : Minister of Housing (Mr Quigley) -was the 'outsider.- But he appeared to have considerable support among new members- . ~ Both Mr Birch. and Mr Bolger had handled difficult portfolios with skill. Mr Quigley was still a junior Minister, . " • \

•'"'■'.Mr Muldoon said it was preferable - for a leader to be able to work closely with his deputy and, for that reason/he supported Mr MacIntyre, a .friend for/ 20 years. He was confident that, if Mr Maclntyre was a non-starter in the race, the support he had gathered would go to Mr Birch or Mr Bolger. Mr . Muldoon said he would not have the same enthusiasm. for Mr Quigley as deputy leader. Mr Quigley’s role.; in .... the leadership wrangle “certainly did not help.”