Deborah Russell

Deborah Faye Russell (born 14 January 1966) is a New Zealand academic and politician. She is a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party.

Deborah Russell

MP
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for New Lynn
Assumed office
23 September 2017
Preceded byDavid Cunliffe
Majority2,825
Personal details
Born14 January 1966
Whangamomona, New Zealand
Political partyLabour (2011–present)
National (1980s)[1]
Spouse(s)Malcolm Wright
ChildrenThree
ResidenceTitirangi
ProfessionAcademic

Biography

Early life

Russell was born in Whangamomona, a small town in the Manawatū-Whanganui region.[2]

Academic career

Russell worked in the private sector as an accountant, and in the public sector as a policy analyst. She has lectured at universities in both Australia and New Zealand in taxation, ethics, business ethics, political theory and philosophy. She was a senior lecturer specialising in taxation at Massey University.

Political career

Russell stood in the central North Island electorate of Rangitīkei at the 2014 election, but was defeated by the incumbent, National's Ian McKelvie.[3] Russell impressed the party leadership with her performance leading her to seek a safer seat to stand at the ensuing election.[4]

Member of Parliament
New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2017–present 52nd New Lynn 30 Labour

In February 2017, Russell was selected as Labour's candidate for the Auckland electorate of New Lynn for the 2017 election, replacing former Labour Party leader David Cunliffe, who had, in the previous year, signalled his intention to retire from politics at the next election.[5] Russell promised to change her residence to the electorate if she was selected, and she now lives there.[4] Russell was ranked 30 on Labour's party list, up three places from 2014.[6]

On 27 June 2019, Russell became Chair of the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee, replacing her previous role as Chair of the Environment Select Committee.[7] Russell in November 2019 said she would like New Zealand to be "the most equal country in the world – full stop".[8]

Coronavirus business remarks, April 2020

On 22 April 2020, Russell drew media attention and public criticism when she made remarks during a video conference with the Epidemic Response Committee suggesting that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand highlighted a structural weakness in the small business sector. Russell had said:

"We are seeing a number of small businesses really struggling after only a few weeks in a pretty bad situation, which must speak to the strength of those small businesses going into this lockdown. It worries me that perhaps people went into small business without understanding how you might build a business or capitalise it in the first place so that you have the ongoing strength to survive a setback."[9]

Finance Minister Grant Robertson disagreed with her characterisation at the time, and ACT Party leader David Seymour subsequently suggested that these words were unsympathetic to small business. While many small business advisors and mentors agreed with Russell, she was criticised as being insensitive by left-wing commentator Chris Trotter, journalist Duncan Garner, and National Party MP Judith Collins.[9][10][11]

References
  1. Farrar, David (21 May 2020). "Labour's first selection". KiwiBlog. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  2. "The "Taranaki girl" who wants to win over New Lynn". Stuff. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  3. "Official Count Results – Rangitīkei". Electoral Commission. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  4. "Battle to replace Labour's David Cunliffe in New Lynn heats up". The New Zealand Herald. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  5. "Deborah Russell to stand for Labour in New Lynn". The New Zealand Herald. 11 February 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  6. "Revised Labour Party List for the 2017 Election". Scoop.co.nz. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  7. "Winners and losers – PM reveals first substantive Cabinet reshuffle". Radio New Zealand. 27 June 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  8. "Income tax rejig tipped as Labour ponders how to fill hole left by CGT failure". Stuff. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  9. Nadkarni, Aluja (22 April 2020). "Coronavirus: Labour MP Deborah Russell blames businesses for struggling during Covid-19 lockdown". Stuff. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  10. Rutherford, Hamish (22 April 2020). "MP Deborah Russell says businesses struggling in lockdown must have had a lack of financial strength". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  11. Small, Zane (22 April 2020). "Labour MP Deborah Russell facing backlash over 'tone-deaf', 'offensive' remarks on small businesses". Newshub. Archived from the original on 22 April 2020. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
New Zealand Parliament
Preceded by
David Cunliffe		 Member of Parliament for New Lynn
2017–present		 Incumbent
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