Cold medications containing pseudoephedrine will again be sold over-the-counter in New Zealand, as the country’s newly formed government overturns the ban as part of “long overdue” health reforms.
New Zealand’s incoming conservative Prime Minister announced on Thursday that an agreement to form a three-party coalition government had been reached, 40 days after the country went to the polls.
Christopher Luxon’s National Party, which secured 48 seats in the 123-seat parliament in last month’s general election, needed the support of the conservative ACT and populist New Zealand First parties to form a government.
“ACT and NZ First have agreed to support the major elements of National’s extensive policy program,” Mr Luxon told reporters on Friday.
“The National and ACT coalition agreement provides that the government will progress a range of ACT initiatives, and that these will be supported by NZ First. Equally, the National and NZ First coalition agreement outlines a range of NZ First priorities which will be supported by ACT.”
Mr Luxon described the three-party coalition government as “historic”.
“[It is] a true three-party coalition government with a strong parliamentary majority and a comprehensive policy program for the next three years that will get New Zealand back on track,” he said.
ACT leader David Seymour, who will become Minister for Regulation, had made overturning the over-the-counter ban on pseudoephedrine a key election promise.
Pseudoephedrine was banned in 2011 under Prime Minister John Key in a bid to crack down on methamphetamine production.
“In health we’ll see a range of … much-needed and long overdue reforms [including] pseudoephedrine-based medication available again next winter for those who have suffered so badly through these weak and ineffective medications, without actually reducing the amount of methamphetamine traded,” he said.
“That is a return to common sense and also great relief.”
Mr Seymour had said on the election trail the ban hadn’t worked.
“Instead, the evidence shows that gangs continue to produce P [meth] and there are no viable alternatives for people who are unwell,” he said, the NZ Herald reported.
After protracted talks, Mr Luxon said on Thursday negotiations had “concluded” and the agreement now needed to be ratified by the three coalition partners.
“At which point, I’ll talk again to the Governor-General and formally confirm that we’re able to form a government,” he told reporters in Wellington.
A formal signing ceremony was held on Friday morning where details of the cabinet were revealed.
Under the unorthodox deal, Mr Seymour and NZ First leader Winston Peters will share the Deputy Prime Minister role in an 18-month rotation.
Mr Peters, who also resumes the role of Foreign Affairs Minister he held in previous administrations, will serve as Deputy PM until May 31, 2025.
Mr Luxon’s 20-member Cabinet includes 14 National Party ministers, three from ACT and three from NZ First.
An official swearing-in ceremony is slated for Monday.
New Zealand has had a caretaker government since voters ended the six-year reign of the centre-left Labour government in elections on October 14.
Labour’s Chris Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister in January, conceded defeat a few hours after the polls closed.
The National Party has promised to ban mobile phones in schools, crack down on crime and scrap planned fuel tax hikes in its first 100 days in office.
frank.chung@news.com.au
— with AFP