Donnelly Brian: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Approvals and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Donnelly Brian: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Approvals and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:847] 
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY (NZ First) 
: 
 I think most of the issues have been covered in the debate but I do have to make some comments upon one or two things. In relation to the last speech by Nathan Guy I have to say that it really is quite sad that such a nice guy in such a short space of time should be driven to talk such drivel. But that is what happens when members get too close to National. Members on the other side have to realise that I was in that situation once. We had colleagues like Tau Henare who actually sat around in 1996 and said that they would never be seated around the table with the likes of Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley but now he is on that side of the House. That is what happens when they get with National. It is sad and unfortunate; nevertheless that is the way things are. 
Paul Hutchinson made some points about how New Zealand First has changed its position but I want to make the point that New Zealand First has not changed its position towards this legislation one millimetre from the time we sat on that side of the House right next door to National. We certainly have not changed our opinion that at that particular stage earlier in the year the National members who were sitting beside us were lacking in intellectual substance—they are still lacking in intellectual substance and we have not changed our position one iota. But I want to ask Paul Hutchinson one thing and it is a challenge— 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a point that the Jeanette Fitzsimons took against me some years ago. It concerns me that the member referred to me as Paul “Hutchinson”. In actual fact the Hutchinsons were the side of the family that invented the thumbscrew while we ourselves are a particularly gallant and honourable lot. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: That is not a point of order. 
Hon BRIAN DONNELLY 
: I shall henceforth refer to the member as “Dr Paul”! Let us face it: how many members in this house would actually refer to “B scientists”? I mean that has to be an insult to all scientists in this country. 
The member has stated that New Zealand First has changed its position. It has not changed its position and I challenge National speakers to tell us of one amendment that they have put up to change this particular legislation—just one issue they actually fought for and tried to change within the legislation in its passage through the select committee and through this House. I challenge the members on the other side of the House to come up with just one word in this bill they wanted changed. Was there one? I tell the House that there was not one instance of any effort to make any change to this legislation by National members sitting on the other side. 
There was from New Zealand First. I can tell members that all of the changes that came in this legislation through its process actually came from New Zealand First and those changes tightened up some of the issues in there. But not one thing came from National. Therefore for National members to say that they oppose this bill and think it is terrible but to have done absolutely nothing except vote for it—that is all they have done—then we know there is a set of goalposts stamped on their foreheads. That is the point I need to make; I am challenging members on the other side of the House. 
Let us face it: we are talking about cross-benchers here. We were cross-benchers before we are still cross-benchers and I can categorically say that I am not a part of the Government constitutionally—absolutely not a part of the Government any more than Georgina Beyer is. But as we did in the last Parliament we will operate in a way that will further the interests of New Zealanders and of New Zealand as a nation. If legislation has to be moved forward in that particular interest New Zealand First will do it. We will continue to operate in that particular manner. 
However I do have to say that I agree with “Dr Paul” on one particular point. I also was gobsmacked by the statement of David Benson-Pope that “This Government promised to fix the Resource Management Act—and we have done it.” That is an unbelievable statement and if Government members actually believe it then they have to have their minds sorted out. Of course a party like New Zealand First is eminently placed to be able to sort their minds out on such issues.