Hide Rodney: Electricity and Gas Industries Bill — In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Electricity and Gas Industries Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:620;Page:15847] 
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
: 
 We oppose this bill of course because it is another example of the arrogance of this Labour Government with its command and control approach and its assumption that it is an all-knowing all-seeing and all-understanding Government that knows what is best. 
Having said that I suggest that the Minister in the chair the Hon Marian Hobbs takes a call. I implore her to take a call to answer the very serious charge Mr Sowry has put to her and say whether this Government wants an independent Commerce Commission—yes or no. It is not enough for a Minister to come to this Chamber and just sit in the chair and read comics. The purpose of Parliament is to examine this legislation and to test it and the reason we have a Minister with a bevy of advisers seated behind her is for the legislation to be explained in order to win support for it. I understand that Marian Hobbs does not know much about anything but all she need do as Minister is turn around to the advisers behind her and ask what the responses are to Mr Sowry’s questions. 
If the Minister is not prepared to do that or to stand up in this Committee to defend the bill she is responsible for tonight I do not know how she can take her pay or lie straight in her bed at night. The Minister has a responsibility for this legislation but Marian Hobbs sits there like a stuffed dummy and does not even engage in the bill. She has not had even one engagement. She may as well not be here. We may as well get a stuffed dummy from Kirks and stick it in the chair. In fact it might be more useful. Marian Hobbs should take responsibility for this bill and she should answer the question from Roger Sowry about whether this Government wants an independent Commerce Commission—yes or no. Or she could take a call to explain why Mr Sowry is wrong. 
The Minister should turn around; there are one two three four five advisers— 
Jill Pettis 
: Leave the advisers out of this. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Oh well even the wonderful whip from the Labour Party is embarrassed by the Minister in the chair and will not run interference on her. There are five advisers there doing overtime who are full of knowledge about the bill. They could talk to the Minister in the chair. They know the answer I think to Mr Sowry’s question. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: I doubt it. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: He doubts it. Or is it the case that the officials are not backing this bill either? 
Jill Pettis 
: How was Spain? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: It was great. I tell the member that it is great being back and seeing the most useless Government Minister this country has ever seen in the form of Marian Hobbs sitting in the chair unable to engage explain answer or even lift her head and look up. [ 
Interruption 
] 
David Benson-Pope says that he cannot hear. I am not surprised given who his benchmate is. If I had that woman screaming in my ears I would be deaf too. 
But again I make the point— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Would the member address Part 3 please. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Mr Chairperson it is all very well for you to say that we should narrow the debate but we are talking precisely about Part 3. [ 
Interruption 
] It is interesting that everyone in the Labour Party wants to make a comment—except the Minister responsible for the bill. Is that not the case? Every one of them wants to sit and run interference but I am asking a very simple question. We are working on Part 3. Mr Sowry has put the question to the Minister. Why does that Minister not do her job or is she incapable of it?