Mallard Trevor: Urgent Debates — Power Outage—Upper North Island 
Mallard Trevor: Urgent Debates — Power Outage—Upper North Island 
[Volume:631;Page:3474] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for State Owned Enterprises) 
: 
 That was the voice of the modern National Party. Don Brash is an Auckland member. Why could he not speak? The rumour is that he was so busy consulting the Business Roundtable yesterday that he did not notice that the lights went out. 
That was the voice of the modern National Party and it is one of the reasons why Ministers on this side are not even bothering to learn the names of the back-benchers opposite. When they have leadership on a serious issue like that from a member like Nick Smith we ask why they bother. Why could they not get a competent member or an Auckland member—one of the two—to put the letter in? Why did Nick Smith not start his speech by saying that when he was a Minister Auckland went 35 long days without power under the reforms of the National Government and its management and governance rules for the electricity system? 
Let us get the facts straight. At 8.32 yesterday morning an earthing cable broke. Why did it break? We do not know. It could have been one of two reasons or a combination of both. It might have been wind. If Gerry Brownlee was around it was almost certainly wind. It might have been poor maintenance. My view is that in the end the investigation will show that it was a combination of both because even with the sorts of winds we had in Auckland yesterday a properly maintained earthing cable should not break. 
Then what happened was that the earthing cable wrapped around two lines. One part of it hit the 110 kilovolt line out of the substation earthed that and the other hit the 220 kilovolt line out of the same substation damaging that as well. That meant that power— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: How could that happen? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Actually relatively simply. The cable broke. One bit hit the 110 kilovolt line and another bit hit— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Auckland powered by one cable! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Actually Auckland was de-powered by one cable. The member cannot tell the difference between powering and de-powering which is an indication of why he is the deputy leader. [ 
Interruption 
] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am quite happy to have their interjections. We do not need the level of protection that you are attempting here. Transpower is now investigating why that cable broke. We will have an answer to that—a report on the Minister’s desk—within 2 weeks. He has already written to Transpower requiring that and that report will be reviewed by an expert who is independent of Transpower. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: More committees no action. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is not a committee actually. It is one report and someone will review it for the facts. I want to be very careful saying this about a State-owned enterprise for which I am responsible but I would prefer to have Transpower’s report reviewed independently than to rely totally on Transpower’s views about what happened. I think it is important that an independent expert checks the Transpower report that will be coming out in the next 2 weeks. 
The next thing that has to happen is that there must be— 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Why are you speaking? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I just happen to be the ownership Minister for Transpower. It is something that is vaguely important. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Oh that old problem. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Tau Henare is chipping in. Why did they not put Tau up? I see they wanted a sober member. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Point of order— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is unacceptable that a Minister who is unable to give answers to the House should resort to the sort of comment that Trevor Mallard just made. I think that if he reflects on it himself he will not be objectionable and he will choose to withdraw and apologise for that most unparliamentary remark. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you. Can I just say Mr Brownlee that members make disparaging remarks about each other all the time. It is a personal reflection that is out of order. If the member himself had chosen to take exception I would have intervened. The member himself did not. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: He did and I am happy to withdraw and apologise. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is clear why the National Opposition did not put up Tau Henare. It did not put him up because he cannot make a sober argument. National did not want Nick Smith or Tau Henare. The person who should have spoken— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Where’s Tuku’s diary? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Tuku’s diary? 
Hon Tau Henare 
: That’s the one. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: When is Tuku going to pay his legal bills? The member’s brother-in-law has $50000 worth of legal bills. I am being diverted Madam Speaker and I will stop from being diverted. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Thank you Mr Mallard. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Madam Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Mr Speaker. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It is important that we remember that this Government has been putting more investment into infrastructure than any other Government has in the past. I accept that in the area of electricity infrastructure we progressed at a faster rate than National but not nearly fast enough and that is the case here. 
I do not know whether there is a systemic problem as far as Auckland’s electricity infrastructure is concerned. I know that there is in relation to the routes into Auckland—there is no doubt about that. I am not an expert and I do not know whether there is a systemic problem in Auckland. If there is it will be fixed. 
Hon Members 
: When? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: It will be fixed depending on its size as soon as possible and with the investment that is necessary. This Government has made it clear to Transpower that the Government’s dividend requirements do not override the important capital expenditure that it is doing. 
However one point that should be made is that this is the first grid-related blackout in Auckland since 1998. It was not a 35-day blackout of the sort that occurred then. It does not mean that we have a Third World power system. I just ask people to work— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: That’s what Keith Turner said. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: That is what who said? I think that until the member gets his voice back he had better loosen something off or just settle down somewhat. Madam Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Mr Speaker. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well actually Madam Speaker. You are acting for her. Madam Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member will please desist and continue with his speech. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Madam Speaker— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You just asked the Minister to desist from referring to you as “Madam Speaker”. That is a perfectly reasonable request given that you are a bloke. Immediately the Minister got to his feet he again referred to you as “Madam Speaker”. I think you should call this Minister who has been doing everything he can to avoid debating the issue back to the point and to comply with your ruling. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: It was in the heat of the moment and I understand where the member is coming from. I ask the Minister to desist and to continue with the debate in the proper manner. Thank you. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Mr Acting Deputy Assistant Speaker—is that right? Mr Speaker— 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I take grave exception to that Minister’s insult to the Speaker. You are the Speaker while in that Chair Mr Assistant Speaker and I think that insult is a grave reflection on this entire House. I believe that you would have the support of the entire House to demand that Trevor Mallard withdraw and apologise to you—and indeed to the entire House—unreservedly. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the member. I inform Mr Mallard that when I am in the Chair I am the Speaker. I would like him to look at Standing Order 28. I expect him to stop trifling with the Chair and to refer to me by my correct title. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Mr Deputy Speaker— 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: No I thank the member. Mr Mallard— 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am sorry—Mr Assistant Speaker. I will get it— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Will the member please be seated. I suggest to him that while I am on my feet he might like to look at Standing Order 28. For his benefit I will read out the relevant paragraph: “(2) An Assistant Speaker performs the duties and exercises the authority of the Speaker while presiding over the House.” That means that when anyone is sitting in this Chair whether the Deputy Speaker or the Assistant Speaker that person is referred to as “the Speaker”. I would expect a member with the long standing of that member who has been a Minister for some considerable time to know better and to show some leadership and courtesy. Thank you. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I say to the member that I have dealt with the issue. 
Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not think you understand the point I was trying to make. We have a situation where a senior Minister of this Government has attempted to insult and intimidate the Speaker. That is an attack on the entire House. I say to you that I take grave exception to that. I told you—and I do not think there was a murmur of dissent—that we expect you to ask Mr Mallard to withdraw and apologise to the entire House for his behaviour here this afternoon. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I say to the member that I was not intimidated. I have dealt with the issue and members cannot reopen it. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: This Government is—[ 
Interruption 
] No I am making it absolutely clear to members opposite that I do not share their views on some matters. Madam Speaker— 
Hon Tau Henare 
: Gutless! 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I heard that. The member will stand withdraw and apologise. He knows that the use of that word implies someone lacks courage and that is out of order. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Of course he was probably referring to Gerry Brownlee. 
This Government is committed to investing in infrastructure. There has never been the level of investment put into transmission and into generating infrastructure over such a short period of time as is occurring right now. If one looks at the wind farms being put in and at the preparations for the Transpower cables through the Waikato one can see that major investment is occurring. 
It is clear to every member in this House that what occurred yesterday in Auckland— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Was a disgrace. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
:—was disgraceful and unacceptable. It was clearly the case of infrastructure being either not strong enough or not properly maintained. We will have a report from Transpower within 2 weeks which will be independently reviewed and acted upon.