Power Simon: General Debate 
Power Simon: General Debate 
[Volume:673;Page:19380] 
Hon SIMON POWER (Minister of Justice) 
: 
 I move  
That the House take note of miscellaneous business 
. I first acknowledge the people of Christchurch and the difficulties they are experiencing in the face of continuing aftershocks. At times like these the public look to their leaders for assurance that these challenges are at the front of their minds. This is where I neatly segue into my next point which is that that is why I was perplexed to hear Phil Goff on the radio this morning defending his leadership over the handling of the Darren Hughes issue. I suppose that “proactive” is one word to describe this approach. But it demonstrates two things. The first is that Opposition members do not know what is on the top of the New Zealand public’s mind and the second is that Phil Goff does not know what sort of leader he should be. Trevor Mallard seems to me to be quietly hitting his stride in recent days—and I will come back to that shortly. He is looking just a little bit more comfortable in his skin. 
Phil Goff in the first 2 years of his leadership struggled to get control over his caucus and I can think of several examples of that. In June 2010 Raymond Huo blogged about China freeing Tibet from the notoriously cruel system of serfdom imposed by the Dalai Lama despite having earlier travelled to China with Mr Goff where Labour’s stance on Tibet was made clear. In July 2010 Steve Chadwick proposed without checking with the caucus a new law to legalise abortion on request for women up to 24 weeks into a pregnancy. Winnie Laban accepted a job at Victoria University before she told Phil Goff. Ross Robertson announced in January 2011 that Labour’s new top tax rate would kick in at “less than the top rate in Australia”—the rate there is 45 percent—despite Mr Goff stating that the figure and threshold had not yet been decided. 
But then there was a change. Mr Goff decided a new approach was required—after 30 years in the House he is nothing if not a quick learner. He turned the tables on his caucus by unilaterally declaring that he will not work with Hone Harawira. Why the change? It is because the leadership aspirants are already marking their run-up. Grant Robertson is being constantly compared to David Lange—mostly by himself—and it reminds me of those annoying people who invent nicknames for themselves. 
But then there is the mystery of why Trevor Mallard spoke on behalf of Labour at a press conference leaping over David Cunliffe David Parker Ruth Dyson Clayton Cosgrove and Maryan Street who although not as senior as Trevor Mallard are ranked ahead of Trevor Mallard. Dare I say that he looked authoritative and authentic? I have to say that he started to look just a little bit like a future Leader of the Opposition. 
In an odd way Mr Mallard’s accident has liberated him from the important business of pushbikes so that he can focus on his hobby of politics. It seems to me that he has come back far more comfortable. While others on the front bench were starting to squirm looking down during the Budget debate and not paying attention to what their leader was saying Mr Mallard was busy sitting there looking content and at ease. I am sure it was not actually the bike accident that has brought about this change— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: No it was the drugs afterwards! 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: It was not the drugs afterwards I say to Mr Mallard. He is looking in control energetic authentic not doing too much too early but playing the long game—a very long game. This man knows that if he can just wait Phil Goff out the opportunities to take back the reins are there for him. 
I think Trevor Mallard has found his mojo in recent weeks. I think Trevor Mallard knows that it is only a matter of time before that long ambition he has held will come to realisation as Mr Goff stumbles from the mistake to mistake accident to accident and misspeak to misspeak. We know that those around Mr Mallard—look they are already coalescing around him in that corner—know that power is where power lies and they know that Mr Mallard is on the rise. He is a young man at heart with a lot yet to offer. If the gossip I am hearing in the corridor is anything to go by he is a man with quite a promising future—unlike the current Leader of the Opposition.