Prime Minister John Key says he has a strong and stable cabinet and is not expecting any major reshuffles before next year's election.National's eight-term Northland MP John Carter announced yesterday he won't stand for re-election next year but Mr Key sa
Prime Minister John Key says he has a strong and stable cabinet and is not expecting any major reshuffles before next year's election.
National's eight-term Northland MP John Carter announced yesterday he won't stand for re-election next year but Mr Key said at this stage he wasn't expecting other changes.
Mr Carter holds the civil defence, senior citizens, racing and associate local government ministerial portfolios.
Mr Key said it was about this time of the year that MPs and ministers considered whether they were prepared to commit to another term in office and while "one or two" may decide not to return, there was no immediate suggestion of that happening.
"No, it's not my expectation of having a reshuffle before the election," he told reporters today. "At the margins there might be minor changes, but I'm not expecting a wholesale reshuffle."
Mr Key said of the cabinet of 20, 14 were new. "So realistically I think we have got a very good team, we've got great talent, and ministers are settling into their portfolios well. If we win another term in government then we will come back and have a look at it then ..."
Mike Sabin, a former police detective who heads the MethCon Group, which fights methamphetamine, has indicated an intention to run for National in Northland.
Mr Key said he knew Mr Sabin was "potentially interested" in standing in Northland and may put his name forward but the pair had not had discussions.
