Brown Peter: Appropriation (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill — In Committee 
Brown Peter: Appropriation (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:643;Page:13116] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 Kate Wilkinson has been here only a relatively short time and I have to say that I have a degree of respect for her because she is a frank-talking lawyer—an industrial lawyer I think. But my goodness! I have to say that she read that speech beautifully but I do not know who the hell wrote it because it is wrong—absolutely totally wrong. 
We learnt today at the Parliamentary Service Commission from Rodney Hide that the National Party approached him—a chap called— 
Anne Tolley 
: He lied. 
PETER BROWN 
: Is the National whip going to deny this? 
Anne Tolley 
: Yes. 
PETER BROWN 
: This is what Rodney Hide told the Parliamentary Service Commission. He said that Wayne Eagleson—who the hell is Wayne Eagleson—on behalf of the National Party came to Rodney Hide and said “The best way to handle this issue is to roll it over.” 
Anne Tolley 
: He didn’t say that. 
PETER BROWN 
: Yes he did. 
Anne Tolley 
: He did not. 
PETER BROWN 
: He did and I took particular note. 
Anne Tolley 
: I know you did. 
PETER BROWN 
: Did the member see me writing it down? 
Anne Tolley 
: Yes I did. 
PETER BROWN 
: Did she? 
Anne Tolley 
: Yes I did. 
PETER BROWN 
: No the note was in my brain. National members make one noise here in this Chamber to the public and another noise behind the scenes. They know we have to have rules and we have to have legislation to govern the activities of MPs. Kate Wilkinson knows this because I have worked with her on the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and I know that she is a sound-thinking person. I do not agree with her politics but I know she is a sound-thinking person. She knows that we have to have rules governing what MPs can or cannot do when it comes to an election. That is what— 
Bob Clarkson 
: You didn’t do that at the last election. 
PETER BROWN 
: Goodness me Bob Clarkson is actually speaking in this Chamber. He is not asleep in the lobby. He is actually here speaking. Goodness me! 
Barbara Stewart 
: He hasn’t taken a call though. 
PETER BROWN 
: He has not taken call—will the member over there take a call? Will Mr Clarkson take the next call? I would welcome him taking the call. Goodness me! 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Will New Zealand First pay the money back to the Western Bay Finance depositors? 
PETER BROWN 
: Will I pay the money back? Mr Clarkson will find out in due course what we are going to do with the money but I can tell the member that New Zealand First stuck to the rules and we will stick to these rules. We did not employ international consultants to work out what we should do in the campaign because we thought it was going to be a July election as those guys did and then use taxpayers’ money to produce the hoardings before the event. We did not do that. We stuck to the rules and we had this brochure checked off by Parliamentary Service. Parliamentary Service will tell the members that. We also had it checked off by the Electoral Commission and the commission will tell the members that. 
This commencement date is the right date. We have got to roll over this bill it is absolutely essential we roll over this bill. Members can see the discourse that National is in. The National members do not even agree with one another so it is essential we roll over this bill and to a time that takes it beyond the next election to take the heat out of the situation. 
This bill has three pages. It is very straightforward it simply says what an MP can or cannot do in terms of doing his or her job as an MP. One would expect the criteria governing what an MP can or cannot do to be different from those of a candidate. It is ridiculous of Kate Wilkinson to put candidates and MPs in the same barrow. It is absolutely ridiculous. She knows it now that she is an MP or she will find out if she does not already know. I know she knows it. It is a different kettle of fish being here representing people from being a candidate trying to be a person here representing people. MPs have got to be allowed to do their job and do their job effectively. 
Colin King 
: What are you talking about? 
PETER BROWN 
: Those guys over there clearly do not know what an MP’s job is. It is not to sit here make noise and oppose everything that comes up under the sun. Members are here to make constructive criticism.