A political commentator says the Prime Minister is continuing to distance himself from ACT's Treaty Principles Bill.

The bill featured heavily in ACT Party leader David Seymour's State of the Nation speech over the weekend.

Brigitte Morten says the move to make Seymour Associate Justice Minister, reinforces that it's ACT Party, not National Party policy.

She says the appointment has some practical aspects too.

Morton says it will allow Seymour to talk more directly to officials on the bill, and will mean he gets to introduce the bill to parliament.

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