Ministerial Advisory Group Faces Resignations Amid Controversy

The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) for victims of retail crime, formed in July 2024, has experienced significant turmoil with the recent resignations of three of its five members. This shake-up leaves only Sunny Kaushal, the group’s chair, and Hamilton liquor retailer Ash Parmar remaining.

Among the resigning members is Carolyn Young, the chief executive of Retail NZ. Young stated in an interview with 1News that her decision to step down was influenced by her inability to work effectively with Kaushal. She described the environment as “really difficult,” citing personal attacks from Kaushal and associated groups as contributing factors to her resignation. She remarked, “It’s fair to say it’s been a really difficult environment for me… that’s made it really difficult and untenable really to stay.”

In response, Kaushal acknowledged the differences between himself and Young, stating that their contrasting viewpoints were “well known.” He expressed his respect for her perspective and extended wishes for her future endeavors. Kaushal characterized the recent changes in the group as typical of leadership dynamics, emphasizing that members often hold multiple roles and may need to step back from external obligations as professional demands shift.

Challenges Faced by the Advisory Group

The advisory group was established to engage with various stakeholders, including victims, workers, business owners, and retail experts, to provide the Government with actionable proposals to tackle pressing issues related to retail crime. Young criticized the group for lacking a strategic plan, arguing that it had become dominated by Kaushal’s personal ideas, which she believed were not widely supported.

“The ideas put forward are Sunny’s ideas,” she stated. “They’re not new, and I don’t think they’re widely supported. We were doing isolated pieces of work without any foundation for what we wanted to achieve.”

Kaushal, on the other hand, attributed the resignations to the members’ evolving career paths. He noted that Michael Bell had taken on additional responsibilities within his business and that Lindsay Rowles had left Foodstuffs to become the CEO of Mitre 10. Kaushal described these developments as positive rather than indicative of any issues within the MAG.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed that other advisory board members had also departed. He remarked that the group had been “incredibly busy” over the past year, working on detailed policy proposals, including new frameworks for citizens’ arrest powers and a shoplifting infringement regime.

Future Directions and Focus

As the group moves forward, Kaushal emphasized the importance of supporting retailers in making submissions to the Select Committee on the Crimes Bill. He highlighted a growing demand among retailers for enhanced police powers to address antisocial behavior in urban areas.

Expressing his disappointment over the resignations, Kaushal stated, “I’m focused on delivering results for safer communities and businesses in New Zealand.” He described the recent developments as distractions that could hinder the group’s objectives.

The Ministerial Advisory Group now faces the challenge of redefining its direction and purpose amidst these changes. With a diminished membership and looming issues in retail crime, the future of the group remains uncertain as it seeks to fulfill its mandate to improve safety and support for the retail sector.