Mallard Trevor: Appropriation (2008/09 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading Imprest Supply Debate 
Mallard Trevor: Appropriation (2008/09 Estimates) Bill — Third Reading Imprest Supply Debate 
[Volume:649;Page:17821] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Associate Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I am told that that was the third speech David Bennett has made in the House. I understand he comes from Hamilton which means Hamilton East which means Sue Moroney is going to beat him come election day. That member has made three speeches in 3 years in Parliament. The people of Hamilton have a proud record going back to Tony Steel and Bill Dillon and other members with integrity members who were not afraid to stand up in this House and debate every now and again. What do we have now? We have someone who we can tell thought there was an outside chance of National winning the election and he greased up to John Key in an attempt to be allowed to shine his car because that would be about the only job that member would ever get within any Government. 
What we know of course is that John Key is about the hollowest man who has ever held the position of Leader of the Opposition. If we talk about strength and strong Leaders of the Opposition even his mentor Jim McLay was seen as—no he was not seen as being strong. I agree with Colin King who indicates that John Key is not as strong as McLay and that it is an unfair comparison to make on Jim McLay. It is an unfair comparison because Jim had a good history in Government and he stood up to Muldoon in those times. 
What I know is that John Key would not stand up to Muldoon in the way that McLay did. John Key would never stand up for New Zealand in an international situation. When it came to Iraq he would have said: “How many troops do you want President Bush?”. “Where America goes we go.” is what the front bench of the National Party says and we know that Crosby/Textor will not let National members say it now because Crosby/Textor is dictating and scripting every speech that National members are meant to give. 
But the trouble is that every now and again there is an outbreak of the truth from the National Party. We got it from Kate Wilkinson on KiwiSaver. Oh National was going to release employers from their contributions! But now we know from the leaks coming out that that is exactly what National is planning to do. Releasing employers and stopping the Government contribution to KiwiSaver is how National proposes to finance tax cuts. That is the National Party’s proposal and it is a clear proposal. But members on the Opposition benches are all asking themselves which member of Parliament was recorded saying that? They are all looking at each other. They are all wondering who is on the tape with that particular bit of policy. Who was honest enough amongst the National Party— 
David Bennett 
: Why aren’t you on the front bench? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The member knows particularly well why I am not on the front bench and the member also knows that I am a Minister in a Government and I intend to continue to be a Minister in a Government which is something that he will never be in his entire lifetime because he is a clown. 
Let us go back to John Key. John Key is now suffering from a group of honest members in his caucus. Lockwood Smith is an honest member Bill English is an honest member Kate Wilkinson is an honest member and Shane Arden is an honest member. What we are seeing is a group of people who say: “We just can’t continue telling lies. We want to tell the truth at least occasionally at least in the privacy of the National Party conference.” They think they should be allowed to tell the truth every now and again even if John Key says it is the wrong thing to do. 
I understand that Richard Worth has been very forthright in an area of policy. I welcome the fact that Richard Worth is being open in an area of policy related to State-owned enterprises. I think it is good that Richard Worth the “Earl of Monaco” who is Monaco’s representative in New Zealand is being straightforward in these matters. I also think it is great that John Key was full and frank when he briefed Merrill Lynch. I think it is a pity that he could not do this in New Zealand that he could not do it openly and that he could not put out his speech notes to the New Zealand media even though he gave the speech in Sydney. But at least he was honest with Merrill Lynch about accident compensation. 
So all of the National members are leaking. There are outbreaks of honesty all over the place but what we are asking for is a bit more consistency. 
Bob Clarkson 
: You can talk! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The member says that we can talk. The one thing the New Zealand public says about this Government is that we under-promise and we over-deliver—and we do not tell lies! We do not go around saying in public that we will not sell Kiwibank but saying in private that we will. We do not go around saying in public that we will not sell the Accident Compensation Corporation but saying in private that we will. 
Hon Mark Burton 
: Bob told the truth. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: What did Bob say? [ 
Interruption 
] I actually quite like Bob because he cannot help being honest. He cannot help being straightforward. It is a wonderful contrast with many of his colleagues. 
Bob Clarkson 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just wanted to mention that it is no wonder I am leaving this place if I have to listen to this bunch of crap. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: No. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I do not want to refer to a point of order that you have dismissed Mr Deputy Speaker but by way of response to what I will regard as an interjection I have to say I have never heard a member of Parliament who on being described as honest says it is crap but that is what the member has done. 
But I commend the member. He may have caught the Tauranga lawyer for perjury. I think Winston Peters could well be right. If someone says something under oath when it was untrue and the person he was acting for knows it was untrue and did not intervene—and did not tell the truth at the time— 
David Bennett 
: Why didn’t you stay in Hamilton? Why didn’t you represent the people? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I lost an election. I had two terms. That member will have only one term as a member of Parliament. 
Bob Clarkson 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. This gentleman—I would not call him a gentleman actually—is insinuating that I have perjured myself in the High Court. I do not think I am very happy about that. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Speaking to the point of order Mr Deputy Speaker I make it absolutely clear that I certainly did not intend to do that. I think the member caused someone else to perjure and he did not put his hand up. The dishonest thing is that at the time Bob Clarkson did not put up his hand and say: “My lawyer has lied in court.” 
Dr Richard Worth 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It must also be exceptionable that the member is suggesting that someone has been a party to perjurious dealing. The member should withdraw and apologise. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: If a member suggested that someone was a party to it or was the principal perpetrator or offender then you would be quite right. But that is not what he said. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I certainly was not saying that but what I am saying is that an honest person a person with integrity would put up his or her hand and say— 
David Bennett 
: You lost! They threw you out of town and that’s what they’re going to do again! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Richard Worth lost his seat too. If David Bennett wants to talk about people who lost their seats he should look one place to his left. If he wants to talk about people who cannot take the heat he should look one place to his right. If he wants to look at someone who is going to lose this time he should look in the mirror because Sue Moroney has got that member’s number. She is knocking on doors and people are saying they wish they had Dianne Yates back. I tell those members that retaining the seat of Hamilton East could be a bit of a stretch for the member and he knows he will have particular problems retaining it. I know that seat well and the people of Hamilton East are doing very well. 
To get back to the point why is John Key using the salaries of 38 staff members who comprise his personal public relations team in the way that he is? Why do the media not get the point that he has 38 people in his office working on his image? Those people are so bad that I would sack them. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Order! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: That is a matter of appropriation. It is very clear that in this appropriations legislation we are financing a pack of lies from John Key’s office.