Dyson Ruth: General Debate 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Dyson Ruth: General Debate 
[Sitting date: 21 February 2007. Volume:637;Page:7562. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 There are many things one could say about Dr Nick Smith the member who has just resumed his seat but most of them are unfortunately outside the rules of this Parliament. It is a shame that that member does not comply with them a little more often. But I will say that he has very mixed morals because for that member to come into this House and call this side— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am reluctant to do it for one of my own colleagues but it is my view that the description that the Minister has just applied to Dr Nick Smith is outside Standing Orders 115 and 116. Clearly he does not have to take objection to it but I do. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Can I just say that the House has been tested. The member has taken no objection. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I withdraw and apologise because the member has taken exception. Under Standing Order 115 it is not necessarily the member to whom the member has referred so on that basis I will withdraw and apologise. It is hypocritical for any member of this House to come in here and attack another member but it is more so when that member himself has been held to be in contempt of court in this country. That member Dr Nick Smith should not lecture anyone in this House on ethics and morals when he has been held to be in contempt of court. Not only that when he returned to this House having been held to be in contempt of court he received a standing ovation from his so-called moral and ethical colleagues. I am just pleased that I am on this side of the House and that member with those so-called morals and so-called ethics is on that side of the House. 
In fact I feel very very good to be part of a team that is very ably and competently led by Helen Clark and Michael Cullen. They are a very experienced and very competent leadership team that not only delivers visionary and competent plans of action to take New Zealand forward but are a leadership team that delivers those plans. Furthermore they are a leadership team that actually likes each other that works well together that gets on with each other and that sits next to each other as if they are on a shared bench not as if they are not even on a shared planet. Helen Clark and Michael Cullen are a leadership team. It is envied by many including I know many in the National Party and they are an absolute pleasure to work with. 
That has to be in very stark contrast with the co-leadership of Bill English and John Key—the nightmare team currently leading the National Opposition. The co-leadership as Bill English describes it is the “face of John Key and the mind of Bill English”. But that is not the only contrast in the National Party. What about the contrast between Bill English and Judith Collins? Bill English described Judith Collins as being “pushed beyond her capacity … with an unfortunately high estimation of her own competence”. They must be just as close as anything! He said that she had spent too much time cultivating the media herself “and believing the resultant publicity”. The atmosphere in the caucus must be so cosy! 
She then said she would find it very hard to recover her credibility in caucus where she had been a tough critic of her colleagues behind the scene but now they know it. That leads to very close friendships I am sure! What are Judith Collins’ colleagues saying about her now that they have found out what she said about them? In fact it seems the only person who is now prepared to back Judith Collins publicly is John Key who says she is terrific. He is the only one on record who has been able to say that so far. 
What about Murray McCully and Bill English? Bill English said: “You need to know now that the experienced people in National will not work in a Government run by McCully. I and others will not tolerate him exercising the same influence he does now.” That was said when Don Brash was leader; it was before the leadership change. John Key made quite a strong play about moving Murray McCully aside except when it came to writing John Key’s first speech except when it came to organising his first visit—right up to today literally because Murray McCully is with John Key in Gisborne today. Murray McCully organised the visit and I am sure that Bill English is really happy about that! It is just like Maurice Williamson on Bill English. He said that Bill English does not have “anywhere near the excitement the charisma the humour the personality or the talent to be the leader.” 
It is getting to be such a warm friendly family! Maybe those National members think all that is needed is to do a flip-flop on the comments made about their close colleagues and hope no one remembers. Does anyone think that Bill English can flip-flop like he does on policy on his view of Judith Collins?