Jones Dail: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Jones Dail: Tariff (New Zealand - Thailand Closer Economic Partnership) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21418] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 We are looking at clauses 1 and 2 and I want to comment on clause 2. On the face of it clause 2 “Commencement” states: “This Act comes into force on 1 July 2005.” All New Zealanders know that Helen Clark was in Thailand some weeks ago signing this agreement with the Thai people without any regard for the New Zealand Parliament. She took another photo opportunity on that occasion as she loves doing that showed her signing the agreement on behalf of New Zealand and binding New Zealand to an agreement with Thailand. Of course the Thai people were doing the same not fully realising just what the protocols are in New Zealand for this type of agreement. 
When we were in the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee considering the agreement itself we were very very concerned. In the short space of time that was made available to us and almost on the day in question when we were looking at it and despite the Cabinet recommendation that 15 working-days should elapse before the select committee had to report back to Parliament and that the Government should take no action within that 15 days to bind New Zealand and when only 13 working-days appeared to have passed—despite all that there was Helen Clark signing this agreement in Thailand in breach of all the protocols that New Zealanders expect her to honour in terms of Cabinet agreements. 
That was just another example of the arrogance of this Labour Government. It does not care about the people of New Zealand’s wishes is not concerned about Cabinet protocols and is not concerned about this Parliament. Its Prime Minister goes racing off and signs agreements and binds the people of New Zealand. 
The bill states that this agreement should come into effect on 1 July 2005. That is not what the people of New Zealand think. They saw Helen Clark signing the agreement and as far as the people of New Zealand are concerned they believe that it is already in existence—otherwise why did Helen Clark have yet another photo opportunity? She went over to Thailand signed this agreement and wasted the taxpayers’ money—or was she wasting the taxpayers’ money? Because this bill states “1 July 2005” yet there was Helen Clark before 1 July 2005 signing the agreement in Thailand. Which one is it to be? 
Clearly there is total arrogance on the part of the Prime Minister Helen Clark in so far as having any regard for the people of New Zealand and any regard for Parliament. The select committee procedure was just an absolute whitewash and a waste of time because the Government had clearly made up its mind and signed the agreement. Even this debate in the House is an utter waste of time because the Government has made up its mind. Helen Clark has been over in Thailand and signed the agreement. We are totally being used in this Parliament and in this country for the benefit of Helen Clark and yet another photo opportunity. No wonder New Zealand First opposes this bill!