Reshuffling of Opposition portfolios

Press, 4 February 1987, Page 2

Reshuffling of Opposition portfolios

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington A modest reshuffling of positions and portfolios by the Opposition has occurred in Parliament, but there is no sign of the front bench changes being urged upon it by the National Party. The pending retirement of the former Leader of the Opposition, Mr Jim McLay, had led to his demotion and the loss of his Justice portfolio to Mr Paul East (Rotorua), said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, yesterday. Mr McLay was also Shadow Attorney-Gen-eral and that function has gone to Mr Doug Kidd (Marlborough). The No. 11 position, held by Mr McLay, has gone to Mr lan McLean (Tarawera), a close associate of Mr McLay who had been promoted by him to the front bench but demoted by Mr

Bolger after the leadership change in March last year. Mr McLean’s elevation to the cross-benches, a half-reinstatement to the front bench, has allowed Mr Bolger to promote Mr Merv Wellington (Papakura) to the second bench. Mr Wellington had been demoted by Mr McLay. Now that Mr Wellington has changed his mind about retiring, he has been brought forward again and made National’s spokesman on energy. He replaces Mr Tony Friedlander (New Plymouth), a former Minister of Energy. Mr Friedlander has been made Opposition spokesman on provincial issues and regional development He would focus attention on the Government’s destruction of provincial New Zealand through its policies, Mr Bolger said.