Hide Rodney: General Debate 
Hide Rodney: General Debate 
[Volume:625;Page:20680] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 That was the previous Minister of Immigration who had to leave Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s request for making untrue statements to the media. We have learnt quite a lot recently about the Labour Cabinet Prime Minister Helen Clark and how they operate. Here are a couple of things we have learnt. Firstly they do not care about the students in the education system. There is not one care for Mr David Benson-Pope’s victims. We have learnt that their first response to any concern is to cover up. We learnt from Jill Pettis that this Government knew for months about the complaints about David Benson-Pope sticking tennis balls— 
Jill Pettis 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Just because someone keeps repeating something does not mean to say it is true. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: That is not a point of order. 
Jill Pettis 
: I explained to the House immediately Mr Hide made that allegation last week that he was totally misrepresenting me. I repeat it and ask him to withdraw. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: We know from Jill Pettis that the Government knew about it for months. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: The member made the explanation last week did she? 
Jill Pettis 
: Yes. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: She did. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Did she make a personal explanation? 
Jill Pettis 
: I did not make a personal explanation. I took a point of order. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: That is a debatable matter and it should not have been raised. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: We know from Jill Pettis that they have known about it for months. That is why she will not make a personal explanation. She does not want to end up where David Benson-Pope is going to end up. So the Government knew about it for months. What then was its next response? It was to deny that anything happened. That is why David Benson-Pope is in the gun now and we have— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think we have somewhat of a dilemma here. It has been made clear by the Government that it knew that that toerag and his TV3 mates had been digging around in Dunedin not what they had made up. 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: On the same point? 
Simon Power 
: It is about the member’s point of order. No matter what the Minister’s personal views of comments made in the debating chamber all members are honourable members. To describe Mr Hide in the way that Trevor Mallard did is simply unacceptable and contrary to the Standing Orders. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: The member is absolutely right. I was going to ask the member in the interests of the House to withdraw that comment. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I withdraw. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: So Government members knew about it for months. Then when they were asked about it David Benson-Pope denied it. Helen Clark then went on the attack trying to shoot the messenger. Why? Because they did not want those men to come out and explain what had happened to them. So the next response was for Helen Clark to go on the attack—attack TV3 the messenger; and attack the MP Rodney Hide for muckraking. Then what happened? The students came forward and said that what Rodney Hide said is true; it happened to them. A student came forward and said: “What Rodney Hide said is true. I sat beside Phil Weaver when it happened to him.” Another student who sat behind Phil Weaver stood up on TV to say that yes it happened. That is what happened. 
We are now in a particularly difficult situation because Television One reported that David Benson-Pope lied to this House in answers to questions. Television One reported twice that David Benson-Pope lied to this House in answers to questions. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: The member may not say those words. He may not repeat them. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Am I in a position where I cannot refer to a Television One news report? Is the position now that Television One can have people on saying that David Benson-Pope lied to this House but I am not allowed to report what Television One said? 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I would like to confirm that the member’s understanding is correct—standards of integrity are required in this House. Unfortunately they are not required for either the member or Television One outside the House. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Clem Simich) 
: I intervened I say to Mr Hide because in my view the member was speaking directly about a member in this House. He cannot do that and that is why I pulled him up. It had nothing to do with television at all. No member is to use something that happened outside the House and weave it into his or her contribution in the Chamber so that it becomes unacceptable to the House. I find it unacceptable. I will not allow it. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: So we have the situation where TV can report something and I will not go there. I have done the appropriate thing and raised that with the Speaker. 
Then we have the next stage. The Minister has disappeared on full pay is hiding out and cannot take questions in the House— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: At least he hasn’t gone to Fiji to rip people off. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: —and we have the likes of Trevor Mallard yelling out trying to belittle the people who are asking these questions. 
It is inappropriate for the Government to be conducting its own inquiry into the behaviour of Mr Benson-Pope. I have no faith and no confidence in the ability of Helen Clark to run an inquiry. Why? Because we now know what happened to Peter Doone. We now know what has happened to a succession of inquiries that this Government has organised. It sets the terms of reference. If it was truly open and transparent it would be consulting with Don Brash it would be consulting with Winston Peters and in particular it would be consulting with me. But no this Government does not want to find out the truth. 
We know this about Trevor Mallard. He does not care about the students. He does not care what happened to them. He does not care about the standards being set in our schools. All he cares about is defending someone against the indefensible. That is what Trevor Mallard is on about. Rather than listen to the students rather than watch TV and see what the students are saying Trevor Mallard goes on the attack. We do not hear Helen Clark now saying: “I stand by Benson-Pope and his word.” We do not hear Helen Clark saying: “I’ve got no worries.” We see Helen Clark slowly inching herself away from David Benson-Pope. By the time there is an inquiry she will be 100 miles away. She is now saying: “Oh that’s what he told Parliament that’s what he told me and I accept his word.” She is setting up David Benson-Pope for a big fall.