Australia’s closest ally has voiced concerns over the frequent changes in the Coalition’s leadership, hinting that it might not even be worthwhile to cultivate a relationship with the newly appointed shadow foreign minister. New Zealand’s foreign minister, Winston Peters, has expressed his surprise at the ‘unjustifiable’ chaos within Australia’s political scene, attributing it to personal ‘ego’. Peters, who is currently serving his third term as New Zealand’s foreign affairs chief, has previously held the position under the leadership of Helen Clark, Jacinda Ardern, and now Christopher Luxon.
When questioned about his relationship with the newly chosen Opposition Leader, Angus Taylor, the 80-year-old Peters instead criticized the recent leadership upheavals that have gripped Australian politics. Speaking to AAP in Wellington, he remarked, “As an outsider, I’m truly shocked.” He reminisced about the era of stability under leaders like Hawke and Howard, emphasizing how these civil years were pivotal to Australia’s achievements. “The current instability is truly unjustifiable, and the rapid changes within both the Labor and Liberal parties have been extensive,” he added.
Peters further commented, “Ultimately, one must question these parties… what is happening with you when personal ego seems to overshadow everything else?” Angus Taylor recently became the third leader of the Liberal Party within a year after winning a leadership contest against Sussan Ley. Although Peters criticized both major parties, it’s worth noting that the Labor Party has had only two leaders over the past 13 years: Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese.
The Coalition’s turnover in its foreign affairs spokesperson is even more pronounced, with five serving in the role since 2022: Marise Payne, Simon Birmingham, David Coleman, Michaelia Cash, and now, Ted O’Brien. In contrast, Penny Wong has served as Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson in opposition and then government for almost a decade. Mr Peters said the task of ensuring strong relations wasn’t helped by political turnover.
‘It makes your job harder because you keep on getting new leaders,’ he said, before joking he may not need to begin fresh relationship-building with Mr O’Brien. ‘The way the polls are going, maybe not,’ he said. Mr Peters is a mainstay of Kiwi politics, first elected to parliament in 1979 and founding the populist New Zealand First party in 1993. He practises the leadership consistency he wishes to see across the Tasman, having led his party for the past 33 years.
