Adams Amy: General Debate 
Adams Amy: General Debate 
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AMY ADAMS (National—Selwyn) 
: 
 The member who just resumed her seat Moana Mackey is very good at showing righteous indignation and having a genuine righteous fierce debate. But let us face reality. The Labour Opposition is in disarray. It is in disarray. Labour members are clearly still smarting from the comprehensive rejection the New Zealand public handed out to them in November last year. We have only to look at their faces. Their faces tell the story of anger and self-entitlement; it is written all over them. Labour members cannot get past the fact that New Zealand did not want them. The public had Labour for 9 years. It took the New Zealand public nowhere. New Zealand said “Enough” and sent Labour packing and the Opposition cannot get over it. 
Members opposite have spent the last 9 months flailing around looking for answers and now they are turning on each other. It is like watching flesh-eating bacteria as it turns in. Any illusion of cohesion is dissolving in front of us. The Leader of the Opposition the Hon Phil Goff sits at an astounding 6 percent—6 percent and dropping—and we can only assume it is due to the constant stream of texts from New York. The texts from New York keep him going. That is where the leader gets his advice from. He says: “What do I do now? Quick! Text Helen! She’ll tell me. We know how to do it! Don’t worry Helen is on the end of the phone and she’ll tell me what to do. Never fear Vodafone is there.” 
Why is Phil Goff still there? When Helen Clark was at 23 percent the party tried to roll him and now the leader is at 6 percent but he is still there. Why is that? I will tell members one thing we know. Annette King told us that “Crown Prince David Cunliffe” is not ready. He is just not ready. “Take a pill David Cunliffe. You’re just not ready.” And as Dover Samuels quite usefully points out the rest of them are basically retreads. They have done their time. In 1994 even Chris Trotter—that eminent left-wing spokesman—was telling us that those members were past their use-by date. Yet still they are being wheeled out. 
So why is it that Labour members continue with this absurd illusion that they are behind Phil Goff when they know that they are not? Do members know why it is? It is because Helen Clark and Michael Cullen made them promise to support Phil Goff for 3 years. They said: “Support Phil for 3 years.” It is a pact. We knew it. They have a pact to back Phil Goff come hell or high water. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The House is certainly enjoying the debate. I just wish members would cut me in on it because I cannot hear a word the speaker is saying. I apologise to Amy Adams for interrupting her speech. I do not mind interjections but my goodness I just cannot hear the speaker and it is helpful if I can. So I ask members for just a wee bit more reason please. 
AMY ADAMS 
: Frankly it is not surprising that I am getting to members opposite. The truth hurts. They know it is the truth. They know that the only reason they are still backing Phil Goff in the job is that Helen Clark and Michael Cullen made them promise to do so. They said: “Give him 3 years. Back him for 3 years come hell or high water.” So now they are wondering how long they can last. How long will that pact last? I can tell members that it is not looking good. The cracks are showing. The numbers are being worked. 
Do members know what is happening? Labour members said: “We have been in the centre long enough. We don’t actually live in the centre.” The left-wing forces are gathering. They are going back to their socialist roots. The numbers are being done. The trade unionists are coming out. They are going back to their socialist roots. The pact will not last long and if I was Phil Goff I would be worried. Despite the fact that the options are few and pitiful when one is on 6 percent pact or no pact— 
Paul Quinn 
: Parekura? 
AMY ADAMS 
: Parekura Horomia could challenge we never know. We have already had Shane Jones’ bid. We know that Shane Jones wants to make a bid. 
On this side of the House we are more interested in getting stuff done. Our leader has our support which is more than the Labour Party can say. We are focused on the young people of New Zealand. We are focused on opportunities. We are focused on futures. We are providing solutions for our young. We are addressing youth employment and we are addressing youth offenders. Thank you Mr Speaker.