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Story: Cabinet government

Derek Quigley resigns

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During the 1981–84 National government, cabinet minister Derek Quigley was known to oppose Prime Minister Robert Muldoon’s interventionist economic policies. Matters came to a head when in June 1982 Quigley made a public speech attacking the government’s economic direction – a clear breach of cabinet collective responsibility. Given the choice of making an apology or resigning from cabinet, he chose the latter course.

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Chris Eichbaum, Cabinet government – Collective responsibility, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/34356/derek-quigley-resigns (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Chris Eichbaum, published 23 March 2012.