Mitchell ClaytonCLAYTON MITCHELL (NZ First): This is a perfect example of camaraderie before competency. This man Paul Goldsmith has been appointed as the Opposition's finance spokesperson and he didn't even touch on finance. The irony of this is that he talks about the economy funking right now but he's not actually going out there to mention that in fact revenue is up because business is up. Business is booming. We've got more export going on than we've ever had—which goes back to the point of the Leader of the Opposition who put this friend of his into this position—and again I ask the question: Why?" He made a comment just before as it was just pointed out that the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has buffoon-like qualities. I have to say that the member who's just resumed his seat has similar buffoon-like qualities because I think he's been referred to on a number of occasions as the gentleman from those ASB commercials Mr Goldstein who is a lovable bumbling—SPEAKER: Order! Order! We've been there before. The member's been warned about it and he will never do it again.CLAYTON MITCHELL: Mr Speaker thank you very much. I have to say that now we find him in this position it is very discombobulating and very confusing. When I did actually hear a month ago that he was taking this position a whole lot of us on this side of the House just clapped with absolute excitement because you couldn't get a better person who loves to make up numbers. What was he talking about? The numbers of jobs that weren't being created through the Provincial Growth Fund. Now he's got the job of making up numbers to do with the Opposition to suit himself when he talks about this "tanking" economy—which in fact is flying like an eagle.But look this member Mr Goldsmith across the House would make a better job of releasing books particularly if you're a sufferer of insomnia because he has released a number of books—particularly his one about New Zealand tax history. If you are struggling to go to sleep one night pick up the first couple of pages and you'll be out like a light. So for any insomniacs out there watching make sure you go and get this wonderful book on New Zealand's tax history. That is the only quality he's got to take the role of the spokesperson for finance. I have to ask again: "How did he actually get this position?" and I do come to the conclusion that it's actually the Leader of the—Rt Hon Winston Peters: It was a raffle. CLAYTON MITCHELL: It was a raffle—he won the raffle. The Leader of the Opposition after all these wonderful books that Mr Goldsmith has written is hoping he's going to get himself his own book about his great leadership and how he's actually come out and run the National Party into the ground to make sure that the rest of the world knows of his history and how well he's doing. I absolutely loved yesterday's article. I sat there and I had a good read of this—and here he is playing the piano. [Member holds up article] But there are a few things that weren't actually mentioned in this article that people back home might like to know and one is that from time to time he actually suffers from Tourette's because I've seen him like a pit bull chewing a wasp when he gets his questions so befuddled. He can't quite get his words out and just absolutely in frustration he sits there and we're going to see a lot more of that today like we did earlier on—SPEAKER: Order! Order! This is a second warning on taste for the member—all right? Taste. CLAYTON MITCHELL: I'll keep it at tasteful. I could think of a whole lot of other members that would be in the front running to take the position of finance spokesperson. Let's start with Judith Collins. I mean what an absolutely genuine loveable affable character. She doesn't mind rolling up her sleeves and getting stuck into it. She surely should have been the front runner for taking that position. At least she's got a little bit of experience. She's got international business acumen. Now the second person is my good friend Andrew Bayly. I mean how was he not considered? He's got a background in banking. He knows how to make people laugh in the House. Surely he was in there—Hon Member: Alastair Scott. CLAYTON MITCHELL: Well Alastair Scott's on his way out so he surely couldn't be considered. Michael Woodhouse: he has got a degree he's been to a great college—St Pauls college—and he's a very articulate and quite a punchy motivating speaker and of course he's a chartered accountant. Again how did this member Mr Goldsmith get into the position of shadow spokesperson for finance—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Cronyism. CLAYTON MITCHELL: —when he knows absolutely nothing about it? Yes cronyism is possibly it. Even David Bennett—I mean we all love a good laugh with David Bennett in the House. He did actually chair the Finance and Expenditure Committee last term. He must know one or two things about finance so why did the other member get ahead of that? So I have to say it is a completely discombobulated Opposition a rowdy rabble in the House. They're not making any traction. They're on the slippery slope to oblivion and it's great to sit here and watch it with our popcorn ready and waiting to see what comes up of interest in the next ensuing weeks. It's a very very careful—man when I looked at the tweets that came through yesterday from the shadow Leader of the House when he showed a picture saying that this is how people—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member's time has expired."