Gosche Mark: General Debates 
Gosche Mark: General Debates 
[Volume:616;Page:11727] 
Hon MARK GOSCHE (Labour—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 I watch a television programme called  
Tagata Pasifika  
each week. It is a wonderful piece of television. Unfortunately a lot of people do not see it. Just recently I saw the National spokesperson on Pacific Island Affairs Judith Collins describe her leader as “honest Don”. Let us test that little label out—“honest Don”. Let us have a look at “honest Don’s” utterances and see whether they can be relied upon. Members will remember the big speech at Orewa which received lots of publicity. Back then he was relieved that we were now going to have a debate on the treaty. He said he was “relieved that at last this issue was being put back on the table for debate … I think we do it by having a rational intelligent mature debate which I am committed to having.” 
That was then. What about now? Maybe a month has gone by and the National Party according to “honest Don” is now asking why we need an inquiry. As far as he can see there is no need to have an inquiry: “I think the debate does not need to be had.” What has changed in a month? I also saw Dr Brash on television I think it was saying the  
Holmes  
poll agreed with him and so we do not need to have any more debate. Goodness me! A  
Holmes  
poll is going to govern this country if National becomes the Government? That is a bit of a worry. We do not have to have a debate on a major important issue that was a major important issue a month ago. Now a month later “honest Don” says we do not need to have it because he has won. That is what he said: “I’ve won the debate everyone agrees with me let’s get on with the next issue.”  
Well let us get on to the next issue. The National Party is going to cut tax for low and middle income earners. Can members imagine the billboard? “National will cut tax for low and middle income earners.” 
Hon Mark Burton 
: Yeah right! 
Hon MARK GOSCHE 
: Yeah right! They have long memories in this country about National and the way it treated low and middle income earners. They can remember wages being cut because of the Employment Contracts Act they can remember benefits being cut they can remember market rents and they can remember the poor old pensioners getting their pensions cut. And what did National do? It cut the tax for the rich. So the real billboard from “honest Don” will be: “National will cut tax for the rich and we’ll pretend it’s for the poor.” But nobody will believe “honest Don” on that one. Nobody will believe that “honest Don” will look after the poor and the low and middle income earner. No way. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member should be referring to Dr Don Brash by his full name and not “honest Don”. He has mentioned that a number of times in this debate. In debates we refer to members by their full name—Dr Don Brash. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the honourable member for drawing it to my attention. I refer the member to Speakers’ rulings 26/7 and 26/8. Members must refer to other members by their full name their title or their portfolio. 
Jill Pettis 
: Yes stop calling Don honest. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I ask the member on my right to stand and apologise because a point of order was being ruled on and the member interjected. 
Jill Pettis 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Ron Mark 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am just reflecting that at the start of the member’s speech he did point out that he was quoting the title given to the leader of the National Party by one of his own MPs. Do I take it from your ruling that we are not thereby permitted to use in quotation any titles or references that another member has already placed upon one of his or her own? 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Anything that is published outside and is not considered to be parliamentary within this Chamber is out of order. 
Hon MARK GOSCHE 
: I am more than happy to take the lead from the junior Opposition whip not to call the National leader honest and I will just point out why. This is what Dr Brash said: “The treaty is not remotely a blueprint for building a modern prosperous New Zealand.” That was Dr Don Brash on 4 March. But the poor old National Party manifesto that it took to the country honestly last time—nobody read it—said: “National recognises that the Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand.” It is no wonder National does not want me to use the word “honest” when referring to its leader because that is an illustration of the doublespeak we get from the National Party. 
We can go through quote after quote after quote. Here is Dr Brash in Southland on 23 February: “It is simple. It is one law for all.” But the day before he had said: “There’s a whole bunch of stuff that might be tolerable or even net beneficial. Now where the line is drawn I can’t be precise.” So it changes from day to day month to month hour to hour. Talking about race-based policies Mr Sowry said: “One size doesn’t fit all; it never has. That is what held this country back in the 70s and 80s.” 
Who could believe a word that any single National Party member says? Quite honestly Mr Tisch is right. We should not be using words like “honest” and “Don” in one sentence because there is ample evidence to prove they do not belong in one sentence. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have called to your attention before that there is a need for you to listen. I sympathise with you that these are incredibly boring speeches but nonetheless it is not appropriate that members use those speeches to breach the Standing Orders and call into question the honesty of other members of the House. I know that poor old Mr Gosche has a speech in front of him that is a bit of a missive from “Helengrad” and he has to read it out today. The “Burns unit” up there compiled a whole pile of statements that he has to get out. He has to put them on the record. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Would the member get to the point? 
Gerry Brownlee 
: It is up to you to see that they do not get on to the record because they are contrary to the Standing Orders. They are inappropriate. It lowers the standard of debate—mind you under this Government that is not unusual. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I can understand the member’s concern but if I were to rule on everything this debate would not get very far at all. I ask the member to desist and come to the point. 
Hon MARK GOSCHE 
: Let us look at another example of the Leader of the Opposition’s doublespeak. He was asked whether to be consistent we should also abolish health welfare and education programmes based on such things as gender age disability and region. The answer from the Leader of the Opposition Dr Brash was: “Good question I am not sure if I know the answer to that.” He is out there having everyone believe that National will do away with this stuff but when he has to be honest and front up to a question about whether he will do away with it his answer is no. Dr Brash would have the country believe that it is a waste of time to have a Minister of Maori Affairs but when questioned about it he said that he has not “crossed that bridge yet” and that it is “clearly something to think about over the next 18 months”. Rubbish!