Dyson Ruth: General Debate 
Dyson Ruth: General Debate 
[Volume:634;Page:6093] 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister of Labour) 
: 
 It is my view that we have quite a large responsibility as members of Parliament because we are able to access information that many other members of the public are not able to access. In my view it is part of being a responsible member of Parliament to use that information properly. I am outraged at the absolutely blatant deceit demonstrated by Tony Ryall in the House during question time this afternoon. In my view Tony Ryall egged on by his favourite leader-to-be Bill English portrayed a situation in such a way that will have parents up and down the country feeling concerned about the meningococcal B vaccine programme. He insinuated over and over again in supplementary questions that many people have had very serious repercussions as a result of having that vaccine. I think that that is a wrong thing for any member of Parliament to do. It is irresponsible it is lazy and it is dangerous. 
At the end of my contribution in the general debate I will seek leave to table the list of injuries accepted by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) from 33 claimants who received their injuries as a result of taking the meningococcal B vaccine. I do not want at all to undermine the seriousness of the one claimant who according to ACC records has thrombocytopenia as a result of taking the meningococcal B vaccine. But I have had it confirmed that the incidence of that immune disease is no greater at all in New Zealand following the meningococcal B vaccination programme than it was prior. For Tony Ryall to insinuate anything else is just a disgrace. Some of the other injuries that occurred included fractured upper teeth—frankly I think people need to know that—a frozen shoulder and rotator cuff impingement. Those injuries could be the result of an injection of anything at all. They are totally unrelated to the content of what was being injected—they are all about the process. 
It is that sort of deceit that has been demonstrated so strongly by the National Party under the leadership of Don Brash. Frankly I think he is a leader who deserves to go because his style of politics is all about division and deceit and in my view there is no room for that in our country. We should not have that sort of behaviour being demonstrated by anybody let alone by people who are elected to leadership positions in this Parliament. 
Don Brash’s track record in terms of deceit is quite frankly gobsmacking. For weeks and weeks he has been coming into this House with his pious sanctimonious bleating about taxpayer money being used on campaigning. On 20 October in the  
Otago Daily Times  
he said on the record then confirmed it subsequently to a number of journalists that he did not use any taxpayer money to fund Bryan Sinclair the campaign strategist. He said that not one dime of taxpayer money was used to pay Bryan Sinclair. But by the end of last week he confirmed on the record that he had lied in those previous interviews because Bryan Sinclair’s salary hotel costs travel costs office phone bill and cellphone bill were all paid by Parliamentary Service money—the same money that National members said we used inappropriately. Not only did the National leader use the money inappropriately he then lied to the public of the country for a whole week. 
Should we be surprised? This is the same man who simply forgot to pay GST on the broadcasting. So will that party refund the GST that is owed to the New Zealand taxpayer? No it will not because if it did pay the money back— 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member said that Dr Brash lied to the country. She cannot say that he lied at all. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I have been thinking about that. The member is right. Under Speaker’s ruling 40/4 the word “lie” is out of order and many other expressions can be used. I ask the member to withdraw. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: I withdraw. Dr Brash consistently told the country one story on the public record and by the end of last week he had changed his mind.