Just when you think Christopher Luxon is getting his act together along comes another self-inflicted wound to undo the headway he was just begining to make. It’s now a sad but predictable state of affairs for a man who is running out of time and feet to shoot before the next election.
National Party leader Christopher Luxon had a fully taxpayer-funded Tesla on order for his use at the same time as he was publicly bashing the Government’s EV policy for subsidising “wealthy Tesla drivers”. The Tesla would have been for Luxon’s use, although he would not have owned it.
The Herald understands Luxon was talked out of ordering the car by horrified staff and at least one senior MP, who believed the purchase would be a massive political risk.
NZ Herald
You don’t say…and here is the political risk front and centre. Once again Luxon is a victim of his own hubris and complete lack of political nous.
The order was placed last year, shortly before Luxon lashed out at the Government for its clean car discount policy, telling Newshub’s AM Show Labour was taxing people driving utes to help “wealthy Tesla drivers by giving them subsidies”. The Government’s clean car discount, under last year’s settings, took more than $8000 off the price of a Tesla.
The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to a little-known Parliamentary perk – a “self-drive” car, which is bought by Parliamentary Service for the leader’s use – it is fully owned, however, by Parliamentary Service.
The order was cancelled between Luxon’s appearance on the AM Show and the Herald making inquiries late last year.
The Herald previously approached the National Party about the car in November.
A spokesperson for Luxon today said: “[a]s we confirmed to you almost seven months ago, Parliamentary Services repeatedly approached Mr Luxon last year reminding him he was entitled to a self-drive car, like all Ministers and the Prime Minister.
“After initially indicating he would take up the offer, Mr Luxon quickly concluded he did not need it and cancelled the order,” he said.
NZ Herald
Don’t you just love the weapons grade spin used there. Good grief, is that the best excuse they could come up with?
No one is going to believe that, except blinkered Nat-supporting sycophants.
The real reason it was cancelled is because the fool mouthed off about Tesla owners while forgetting he was trying to be one. That is the real reason.
And cancelling it has achieved nothing: he is copping flak anyway.
Christopher Luxon is running out of time and feet to shoot.
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