Cosgrove Clayton: General Debate 
Cosgrove Clayton: General Debate 
[Volume:672;Page:18338] 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
: 
 I will address for a moment the tumultuous events that have occurred in politics in recent days. For the first time I suspect in political history we have witnessed the corporate takeover of a political party with Dr Brash taking over from Mr Hide. But I have to say that we should celebrate this fact as parliamentarians as keepers of democracy because the system works. The swamp is being drained the political scum is being scraped off the top of the spot pond and in 7 months’ time “Mr Rort-ney”—I am sorry Mr Rodney Philip Hide will not be in this place. 
I say to the Parliament that what has been in Mr Hide’s own terms Mr Hide’s journey of transition and reinvention has been a journey all right. It has been a journey from perk-buster from a person who was a wrecker—not a builder or a person of ideas—in this place. He took great delight in tearing down not only members of this Parliament but those near and dear to them. What will be his ultimate act his gift to the people of New Zealand as he leaves this place? I say that his journey of reinvention concludes when a man like him gives up the leadership of his party and even gives up his parliamentary seat in order to cling by his fingernails to the baubles of office for 7 more months. 
If my memory serves me correctly he served up that accusation time and time again to a former member of this place. It actually reminds me of the film 
 Dawn of the Dead 
. In that film as I recall on the stroke of midnight the zombies emerged from the ground and stalked around the parish and around the streets. These entities I am told eat each other and even eat the living dead—as Mr Hide I think will come to be known in this place. It reminds me of that movie. 
I say to the House that someone left the crypt door open a crack. Someone left that crypt door open a crack for that energetic youthful dynamic team full of enthusiasm: Sir Roger Douglas John Banks John Boscawen and Dr Don Brash. What a youthful and enthusiastic group! 
What should we remember about Dr Brash? I can say this because he is no longer a member of this Parliament. Dr Brash of course has not changed. He is for total asset sales as my leader said and he lied to the New Zealand people. I can say that because he did lie to the New Zealand people in 2005— 
Hon David Parker 
: And he was caught. 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE 
: —and was caught and he denied it. As late as last weekend I think on  
Q+A 
 or the TV programme  
The Nation 
 
the question was put to him again and again as to why he had lied and he denied it. So the question for Dr Brash as he tries to re-enter this place and clean up his so-called party is whether the leopard has changed his spots. 
Then we come of course to the asset sales issue. Again Dr Brash has not changed. The National members of course want to use Dr Brash as an alibi for doing everything that they really want do to and have always wanted to do in the last 2½ years but were afraid to do because they know deep down that the people of New Zealand are against the sale of assets. So it was a corporate takeover by National or mates close to it. 
We have a man who wishes to re-enter this place a man who described his former leader as toxic. He has now suddenly and miraculously changed his mind and decided that Mr Hide should stay in the ministry. Again he has been aided and abetted by the Prime Minister. This is the same Prime Minister who aided and abetted Mr Hide in some of his antics in this place in respect of Mr Garrett and in respect of his rorting of the system and his misuse of taxpayer’ money—something that Mr Hide of course alleged against many many members of this Parliament. But when his own feet were put to the fire he denied it. 
But a member who is described as toxic appears to be good enough to sit in the Cabinet of John Key. A member who says one thing and does another is apparently credible enough to be in the Cabinet of John Key. A person who wants to get into this place and who lied to the New Zealand people repeatedly in 2005 appears to be good enough to re-enter this House and re-enter the Cabinet of John Key. We will see the real agenda in respect of asset sales. They will be gone by lunchtime.