Power Simon: General Debates 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Power Simon: General Debates 
[Sitting date: 15 October 2003. Volume:612;Page:9197. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 That was a fine outburst from one of the suppressed back-bench members of the Labour Party who along with Mahara Okeroa finally got her say. They were finally allowed to talk in the House after being told to sit back there keep quiet swallow the dead rats and vote for the Supreme Court Bill. They were told: “Don’t represent your people; just come to the Parliament and do as you are told.” I say to Georgina Beyer that she should not have vented her anger on us; she should have directed it at those Ministers on the front two rows of the Government benches. 
I want to refer the House today to a fine and accurate piece of journalism. I refer to the local Victoria University magazine  
Salient 
 where Michael Appleton the editor of that magazine recently completed an interview with the Prime Minister Helen Clark. Let me tell members of this House that that was a stunning piece—a great piece—of journalism. I will read the concluding paragraph: “Clark is running out of friends. The media are more suspicious of her. She is burning bridges with the Greens and United Future will be more at home on social issues with National than Labour.”—well maybe not—“Interest groups are tired of being patronised by a Prime Minister who lashes out at anyone who criticises her.” That is precisely the theme that the New Zealand public— 
Jill Pettis 
: You weren’t born when Muldoon was alive—obviously! 
SIMON POWER 
: I tell the member that I was born when Muldoon was alive. What a very strange woman! Thank goodness we do not have to deal with her on our side of the House. 
I have to say that that piece of journalism did extremely well. Helen Clark is quoted in the piece as saying: “I speak a lot about tolerance. We battle away at trying to promote attitudes that are tolerant inclusive and understanding.” But the editor himself disagrees with Miss Clark’s description of herself and he goes on to say: “For all she talks about tolerance it is quite clear she is a very intolerant person. She is very intolerant of people who have different political views from her. She is intolerant of Ministers whom she perceives as incompetent and she is intolerant of journalists who criticise her.” 
Do members remember when she accused the Greens at the last election of “descending to the gutter of the National Party.”? I thought that was a bit harsh on us actually; it was not so harsh on the Greens. Do members remember when she described John Campbell as that “little creep” and as despicable and unethical? Do members remember when she labelled Wyatt Creech one of the finest people ever to come to this House as “a scumbag” and “a sleazeball”? Those comments were made by this tolerant Prime Minister who says she promotes tolerance and understanding in her own party. 
She is unwilling to debate with anybody on issues that matter. The Privy Council legislation was rammed through. It was major constitutional legislation change and it was pushed straight through this House. She was not interested in talking to farmers about the flatulence tax. She was not interested in listening to the backbone of New Zealand. 
She is not alone in having odd views at the moment. The rumour circulating around Wellington is that Annette King is off. She has bought a house in Hawke’s Bay and she is waiting for the current Speaker to head off to London so she can get that job and retire in the Speaker’s Chair before the end of this Parliament. I say to Annette King that she should come down to this House and tell us she is not retiring to Hawke’s Bay or waiting to be Speaker of the House. She has obviously been given the nod to be the next Speaker. 
We want to know what will happen to poor members like Clayton Cosgrove. What will happen to Clayton Cosgrove? He is one of the suppressed back-benchers. He has been banished to the back benches by that fellow from Hamilton who—well no one seems to know exactly what that member does. 
David Parker will be the former member for Otago at the next election—I can tell members now that that seat has gone. That seat at the next election will be held by National. That member’s minutes are ticking away. 
Phil Goff the man who single-handedly wrecked our relationship with Australia and the United States—who comes down here vein-popping and screaming about what is going on on this side of the House—is withering on the vine. There are no more barbeques I say to Mr Goff—no more chances for the leadership—but just a sad sad withering on the vine. 
What will Helen Clark’s legacy be? How will Helen Clark be remembered by history? She likes to model herself on Keith Holyoake who was a great National Party leader. Helen Clark may model herself on Keith Holyoake. Helen Clark might even think she can be like Keith Holyoake but in the words of vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen Helen Clark is no Keith Holyoake.