Losing a portfolio is not the same as being sacked as a Minister
There is a massive difference between being sacked as a Minister and merely having a portfolio taken off you.
Merely losing a portfolio has basically zero impact on a Minister except they may lose one seconded private secretary from their office.
Here’s what they don’t lose:
- They do not have their salary drop by $132,046
- They don’t have their perks drop by $9,000
- They don’t lose their Ministerial house or have their accommodation payment reduced by $16,000 a year
- They don’t lose access to VIP Transport
- They don’t lose their self-drive car or cars
- They don’t lose 90% of their staff
- They don’t have the allowance of up to $395 reduced to $260 a night for accommodation outside Wellington
- They don’t lose the meal payment of up to $80 for the Minister’s partner
- They still attend Cabinet
So losing a portfolio is more like losing a toenail, than something of real consequence.