Chris Baillie
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for ACT party list
In office
17 October 2020 – 14 October 2023
Personal details
Born
Christopher John Baillie

1961 or 1962 (age 61–62)
Political partyACT

Christopher John Baillie (born 1961 or 1962)[1] is a New Zealand politician. He was a Member of Parliament for ACT New Zealand from 2020 to 2023.[2]

Early life and career

In a speech to Parliament, Baillie said that he was born to a unionist, Labour-supporting household and he believes his contrasting political views originated from his father's support for marine engineer workers on strike. Baillie said that, at 12 years old, he considered the strike unreasonable.[3][4]

Baillie worked in the police for 14 years, has owned a pub, and has worked as a special needs teacher.[5][6][7] While working as a teacher he initiated a discussion group at his school, Nayland College, prompted by what he perceived as "hysteria" about climate change, and the effect of this on student mental health.[8][9] Some of Baillie's former students have criticised his meetings, where he reportedly spoke out against well-known climate change activists including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Greta Thunberg. In response, Baillie denied he was spreading misinformation and rejected descriptions of himself as a climate change denier.[8][9]

Political career

New Zealand Parliament
Years Term Electorate List Party
2020–2023 53rd List 4 ACT

Baillie joined ACT at the end of 2019. He met the party's leader, David Seymour, in early 2020 and after that meeting decided to run for Parliament at that year's general election.[1]

Baillie ran for the electorate of Nelson. He did not win the electorate, placing fourth with 1320 votes, but ACT won 7.6% of the party vote, which entitled it to ten MPs, including Baillie.[10][11][12] After the election, Baillie said he had not expected to become an MP when he submitted his candidacy.[6]

He was ACT's spokesperson for small business, workplace relations and safety, education, and police, as well as a member of parliament's education and workforce select committee.[13] Baillie launched the ACT truancy policy in November 2022, which stated that schools would be required to report attendance data to the Ministry of Education each day or risk losing funding and also proposed an infringement regime for parents of nonattendant children.[14]

Baillie unsuccessfully contested the Nelson electorate for a second time in the 2023 general election, coming fourth place with 2,692 votes.[15] Due to his lower party list ranking of 17, Baillie was not reelected to Parliament.[16][17]

Political views

In his 2020 candidacy, Baillie spoke out against the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Act, which had passed without opposition in parliament the previous year. He said he supported "sensible" climate change policy that "incorporates evidence".[7] He said he would vote in support of the End of Life Choice Act 2019 but not the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill at the euthanasia referendum and the cannabis referendum held alongside the 2020 election.[7]

As an ACT MP, Baillie supported reducing the effects of red tape on businesses. He expressed concern about the effects on businesses of increases in the minimum wage or number of sick days, and the complexity of the personal grievance process.[6][18] Baillie supported 90-day employment trials, stating "The 90-day (employment) trials in my particular business worked really well. I work with disadvantaged kids and through my policing, I've worked with people who struggle to get a job, and taking away (90-day trials) was a real disservice and made it even more of a challenge for the most vulnerable people in our society to try and get a job."[18] He is also in favour of charter schools.[18] In 2023 he stated his support for law changes enabling the sale of alcohol on religious holidays such as Easter but does not support the removal of public holidays rooted in Christianity.[19]

Personal life

Baillie plays the trumpet and has been a member of multiple jazz bands.[1] He has also played rugby for over 30 years.[20] Baillie owns The Honest Lawyer restaurant in Nelson.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wade, Amelia (5 August 2020). "Election 2020: Party of 6? Meet the Act team who could soon become MPs". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Election 2020: The 40 diverse new MPs entering Parliament". Newstalk ZB. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 – via The New Zealand Herald.
  3. ^ Baillie, Chris (8 December 2020). "Address in Reply Debate – Video 59". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  4. ^ Baillie, Chris (8 December 2020). "Address in Reply Debate". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ^ Sivignon, Cherie (2 June 2020). "ACT candidate Chris Baillie eyes party vote in Nelson". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Sivignon, Cherie (18 October 2020). "Election 2020: New ACT MP Chris Baillie needs a place to live in Wellington". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c Anderson, Charles (30 July 2020). "ACT's Nelson candidate standing on 'principles'". Nelson Weekly. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Sowman-Lund, Stewart (13 October 2020). "Future Act MP held 'climate hysteria skeptics' meetings at high school". The Spinoff. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b Newman, Tim (5 July 2020). "Nelson ACT candidate responds to climate change criticism 'hysteria'". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Nelson – Official Result". Electoral Commission. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  11. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  12. ^ "2020 General Election and Referendums – Official Result Successful Candidates". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  13. ^ "Baillie, Chris – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  14. ^ "ACT launches truancy policy for schools". RNZ. 27 November 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Amended official result for the Nelson Electoral District". New Zealand Gazette. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  16. ^ Pearse, Adam (28 October 2023). "Election 2023: Act MPs not tossing toys after surprise list demotions". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  17. ^ Neilson, Michael (28 October 2023). "Act Party list: Some big falls and a few surprises". NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  18. ^ a b c "Who is filling up ACTs possible 11 seats in parliament?". Newshub. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  19. ^ Magrin, Federico (6 April 2023). "Is it time for Aotearoa to move away from Christian-based holidays?". Stuff. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  20. ^ Doyle, Katie (1 August 2020). "Top five contenders who could join ACT leader David Seymour in Parliament". Radio NZ. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
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