Woodhouse Michael: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Woodhouse Michael: Adjournment — Sittings of the House 
[Sitting date: 12 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7502. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 At the moment I am reading the autobiography of the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and I was very interested to note a quote he made about the Labour Party which goes thus: “Today it seems completely unacceptable ridiculous even that the unions played such a decisive role in the selection of candidates and leader … [Labour] was formed funded and run by the unions so the roots were inseparably intertwined with I’m afraid very mixed long-term consequences.” Well I think he really got that right. I read it over the weekend that the New Zealand Labour Party changed its constitution to do just that. I can imagine the terror in David Shearer as he realised that only 40 percent of his caucus would be required by Mr Cunliffe to roll him. I can imagine him running to David Parker his erstwhile finance spokesman and saying: “David you’re a finance guy. What’s 40 percent of the caucus?”. And David Parker would turn around and go: “David it’s 95.” Shearer: “But David are you sure?”. Parker: “Yes I’ve checked it twice.” Shearer: “But hang on there’s only 34 in our caucus.” Parker: “No it’s definitely 95.” 
The most amazing thing about last week was the fact that when the results of one poll that might have suggested that the tide was turning—and I suggest that that was pretty premature—had the Greens measuring up the hemp curtains in the Beehive Mr Shearer immediately ruled out Dr Russel Norman as a future Minister of Finance. Well I think that is a bit dodgy really because he might be crazy but at least he can count. It is one of the prerequisites for being a Minister of Finance. Even Mr Parker in his speech in the biggest suck-up of the day said he gave Mr Shearer 7 to 11 out of 10. How on earth one gets 7 to 11 out of 10 for a performance by the Leader of the Opposition I will never know. 
But I say this to the Greens: if one wants to eliminate child poverty do not give me a family support payment. It is not going to work. It needs to be more targeted. To Gareth Hughes: if one calls for an inquiry into a method of mining and drilling and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment comes out and says there is no evidence that it is unsafe then listen to the Parliamentary Commissioner. Do not continue to bury one’s head in the sand because that is all we have heard from Labour and the Greens this year. If only we could hear one word—one word. That word is “Yes”: yes we support something that the Government is doing to grow the economy. But no they say no to the intensification of the agricultural sector no to more oil and gas exploration and no to more good jobs coming from Australia to New Zealand. Making welfare work the 90-day probation period any of our labour market reforms ultra-fast broadband foreign investment in New Zealand and the 3000 jobs that came from  
The Hobbit 
—no no no. 
Well I know why the polls are showing that the Government support has not flinched in 4 years. It is because this is a caucus united behind a leader. I want to thank my colleagues for their support through this year. It has made my job easier as senior whip. The fact is that the energy is high the discipline is good and we are united behind the Prime Minister as leader of this party. Those are some lessons that I think Opposition parties could draw on. But I also want to add my thanks to the staff as has been mentioned by other colleagues: security Hansard the Clerks and the many others who make Parliament work. I also want to acknowledge my fellow whips. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes that is not seen and I have enjoyed working with Messrs Hipkins Hughes Stuart and Flavell and Ms Fenton. 
But to you Mr Speaker call me Nostradamus-like but I have a feeling that there will be an opportunity in the not too distant future for some teary-eyed nostalgia. But in the meantime on behalf of my caucus I do want to congratulate you on and thank you for the manner in which you your deputy and your assistants have managed proceedings in the House this year. To you merry Christmas. Enjoy a safe and relaxing break. Also to members of the public and all in this House a very merry Christmas and a happy and more prosperous New Year.