Parker David: General Debate 
Parker David: General Debate 
[Volume:623;Page:18489] 
DAVID PARKER (Labour—Otago) 
: 
 Dr Brash was appointed to his position by a desperate National Party a little over a year ago by a caucus that was reeling under the leadership of Bill English. At that time we and the rest of New Zealand—and indeed most of the press gallery—wondered: “If Dr Brash is the answer what was the question?”. I have reflected on that. I have asked myself whether the question was: “Is it a man’s world? Are women adequately represented in National?”. I look at National and see that it has no women on the front bench and only six in total. Let us look at them: Georgina te Heuheu was dumped Lynda Scott was dumped and Katherine Rich was dumped. 
Dr Brash has advanced only one woman: Ms Collins who like Dr Brash is a right-wing ideologue. Before Ms Collins came here to Parliament what did she do? She was chairperson of the Casino Control Authority and chairperson of Housing New Zealand appointed by National to continue its sell-down of State housing. Last year we saw her elevated to the shadow health portfolio. What else did we see? We saw her trying to wind back the right of young women to access abortions. What is Dr Brash’s response to criticism about the lack of women in his team? He says that he will not give in to political correctness. I say that allowing women to take their rightful place in Parliament and to take leading roles is not about political correctness. Next Dr Brash will be saying that it is PC to give women the vote. The conduct of Dr Brash in relation to women’s rights really is outrageous. 
If Dr Brash is the answer what was the question? Could it have been that he was appointed to unite the various factions within National? Clearly he was not. I am from the South Island. Let us look at National’s members from the South Island. David Carter was dumped as soon as Dr Brash arrived. Bill English was dumped by Dr Brash. Nick Smith was dumped by Dr Brash. Lynda Scott was dumped by Dr Brash. Katherine Rich was dumped by Dr Brash. Who is left? Only one person from the South Island is left: Gerry Brownlee. Dr Brash certainly does not have his caucus under control. 
If Dr Brash is the answer what was the question? Well does New Zealand need to have a right-wing ideologue running the country? Let us look at that. Since 1999 we have had 100000 fewer people on welfare 200000 extra people in jobs the second-lowest rate of unemployment in the OECD one of the highest rates of growth in the OECD—higher than Australia’s; we are doing better than Australia at present—and five increases in the minimum wage. In contrast what does Dr Brash stand for? He stands for austerity for higher interest rates and for higher unemployment which he favours so as to suppress wages and inflation—inflation being his great fixation. If Dr Brash is the answer what was the question? It certainly was not about New Zealand wanting right-wing ideology. We see that in the polls. As Colin James says since March 2004 National has dropped in a straight trajectory from 45 percent to 33 percent in the polls. 
If Dr Brash is the answer what was the question? I will tell the House what the question was. It was whether Don Brash could do a worse job than Bill English. That was the question the National Party caucus asked. The answer to the surprise of them all was “Yes”.