Jason Walls: Political Editor on Melissa Lee's demotion from Cabinet and loss of portfolios Simon Barnett & James Daniels Afternoons

Embattled Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee has been stripped of the portfolio and booted from Cabinet.  

The Prime Minister has revealed the change after weeks of Lee struggling to front on the collapse of Newshub and cuts at TVNZ.  

Chris Luxon says Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith will pick up the portfolio. 

He says there has been significant change in the media environment which has moved quickly, and he wants a good senior Minister responsible. 

Political Editor Jason Walls told Si and James that this was unexpected news, but it makes sense. 

He said that Luxon didn’t say that the Ministers were doing a bad job, they just weren’t performing optimally and so he had to move them around. 

Lee continues to hold the Economic Development portfolio, which Walls said is quite an unusual one to have outside of Cabinet, especially for a party that has such a strong focus on economic development. 

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