The government's position was that we have frigates that have got a useful life until 2006. There is no necessity for us to make final decisions until 2002.

In her role as Minister of Social Welfare Shipley sparked controversy[citation needed] with her cutbacks to state benefits. She became the first National Party leader to seek to make electoral overtures to the gay and lesbian voting public. She also served as Minister of Women's Affairs (1990–1996).

Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM (born 4 February 1952) served as the 36th Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999 the first woman to hold this office and the first and to date only woman to serve as parliamentary leader of the National Party of New Zealand.