Swain Paul: General Debate 
Swain Paul: General Debate 
[Volume:620;Page:15671] 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 I move  
That the House take note of miscellaneous business 
. We used to remember when the National Party was a proud and strong party— 
Government Members 
: When? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In the days of Holyoake. Remember those days? Remember back in the time of Marshall and Bolger? Those were the days when people knew what the National Party stood for. Members on this side of the House never agreed with their views but we knew what they stood for. But that is not so now. 
With that current bunch of members the National Party is a shadow of its former self. No one knows what they stand for no one knows what they believe in and no one knows what their policies are. They are a hopeless useless lazy Opposition. They are leaderless rudderless and directionless. Don Brash who is a part-time leader is the epitome of all that the National Party now stands for. In the short time available I want to remind members of some of the things that Don Brash the part-time leader has been up to. I refer them to National’s nuclear-free policy. 
In January 2004 Don Brash said: “If the National Party was in government today we would get rid of the nuclear-propulsion section today—by lunchtime even.” By lunchtime! Then he went on to say: “We had a range of views back then from both the party and the public and there simply doesn’t appear to be a strong demand for change.” and: “I think that the likely outcome is that we will say we cannot make this decision pre-election.” Then he said: “The likelihood is that we put a proposal to the Americans which they find acceptable and that of course would be after we become Government. We would then seek a referendum for any change in the law.” So National’s nuclear policy is hopelessly uncertain and undecided. 
What about the Employment Relations Act and employment relations generally? Of course in October 2003 Don Brash said that National would scrap the Employment Relations Act but yesterday he said: “I think the business community is broadly happy with that Act.” 
Darren Hughes 
: Flip-flop. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: It is a flip-flop and a U-turn. In Parliament yesterday when he needed a ladder and chose a spade he went on to say that he thought he did support the Employment Relations Act. But then when asked today whether it lined up with the policy he said: “Frankly I haven’t recently reread our industrial relations policy from the year 2002.” So it is very hard to know exactly where the National Party stands on such issues. 
On the Holidays Act Don Brash said: “We will scrap 4 weeks’ holiday for New Zealanders.” Well that completely ignores the fact that when Dr Brash was Governor of the Reserve Bank 4 weeks’ leave was the standard leave package for people who worked in the Reserve Bank. So it is a question of: “What is good enough for me is not good enough for them.” and vice versa. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: He’s had 40 weeks’ holiday a year. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: He has had more than 4 weeks actually if we judge the presence of that member in this House. 
On superannuation Dr Brash said: “We will need to increase the age of eligibility.” Then he went on to say: “I think it should rise in about 10 or 15 years’ time.” Then he said: “I think the age for receiving super will need to rise in 2020.” and then he said: “No Government of which I’ll be part will be touching the age of eligibility.” So it is very very difficult to know what that member thinks about superannuation. Of course he described the superannuation fund as “financial smoke and mirrors” whereas John Key said: “I think there are elements of this scheme which are quite good.” So the problem with the National members is that we simply do not know where they stand. 
I call on National Party members to tell New Zealanders where they stand on those things. It is important that New Zealanders know where they stand as an Opposition party. How on earth can people judge them when they do not know where they stand? They have no leadership.