Moroney Sue: General Debate 
Moroney Sue: General Debate 
[Volume:649;Page:17783] 
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
: 
 Today we saw the Crosby/Textor-ised version of the National Party did we not? But at the weekend we actually saw the natural National Party. We saw what those members really believe in and was it not revealing? But today we saw the Crosby/Textor-ised version of the National Party. What was it? National members think that the New Zealand public is foolish enough to be distracted from the real issues by their coming out with the Crosby/Textor approach of talking about dirty tricks. That is what Crosby/Textor has told them to say. They think it will distract the New Zealand public from the real issues which were displayed out there for everyone to see at the National Party conference during the weekend. I would invite National members to have a conference every week because they always make a complete hash of it. 
I think New Zealand voters have learnt a lot over the course of the weekend. They have learnt it not because National members have been prepared to get out and debate what they really truly believe in; they have learnt it because they found out about private discussions that were held behind closed doors. National members do not want New Zealand voters to know what National truly believes in. If National members truly believe that they have the best plan for New Zealand and that their ideas are the best I ask why they do not put them up for public discussion. Why do they keep their true views and values for private discussions behind closed doors? The election should be about a contest of ideas and if we are to have a true contest of ideas then National members should be up front and put what they truly believe in out for public debate. Let us bring it on. Let us have a debate about who really has the best ideas for this country. But no those members pretend that what they truly believe in is not what they want to do. 
So let us look at what those members genuinely believe in. On the issue of Working for Families what did they say before they got Crosby/Textor-ised? Well in May 2005 John Key said about Working for Families: “The next National government will redesign this complex bureaucratic and costly welfare monster”. That is what he said in his natural state—that is what John Key truly believes. 
John Hayes 
: This is a very well-researched speech. 
SUE MORONEY 
: I say to the member that this is his leader so he should listen up. John Key stated in May 2005: “Much further down the track though I actually want to go and have a really good look at Working for Families and the whole structure of welfare in New Zealand.” 
John Hayes 
: No definitely got that quote wrong. 
SUE MORONEY 
: That is a direct quote from John Key. That is what he said before he was Crosby/Textor-ised. Of course after he was Crosby/Textor-ised he came out and said that National wants it too that it will keep Working for Families. But that is just Crosby/Textor speaking; that is not the true heart of the National Party. 
What did Bill English have to say about Working for Families? Well on the weekend it was very revealing because Bill English said about Working for Families: “So later on we’ll have to have a bit of a sort out. Yeah we’ve gotta do something but we can’t do it now.” Why is he not prepared to stand up and debate that issue in public? I ask why he does not tell us what his view—his genuinely held belief—is on the Working for Families package so that we can actually engage in a proper democratic debate and we can have a proper contest of ideas when the election campaign comes on. 
What about superannuation? What have National members said about superannuation? Their view is just as slippery. Before they were Crosby/Textor-ised on this one John Key stated: “I don’t think there is any doubt that the single biggest way to reduce that liability”—he is talking about superannuation—“is to raise the age of eligibility.” That is what John Key said in November 2003. In August 2004 John Key said on superannuation—again before he was Crosby/Textor-ised—“there is likely to be a modest increase in the age of eligibility.” That was what John Key said in 2004. What about what Bill English had to say about superannuation? Well before he was Crosby/Textor-ised he stated that it was too generous. That is what Bill English had to say about superannuation but what are National members saying about it now? John Key said after he had been Crosby/Textor-ised that he would resign if there were any changes to superannuation. That is what he said because Crosby/Textor told him to say it. But that is not what he truly believes—we heard what he truly believes earlier on in the equation. 
Lockwood Smith seems pretty honest but have members noticed that he is always honest behind closed doors? Lockwood Smith gave us the “gone before lunchtime” comment about the nuclear-free policy. “Gone before lunchtime”—that was in a discussion behind closed doors as well. Lockwood Smith also reminded us that many members of the National Party caucus do not believe in climate change.