Heatley Phil: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Heatley Phil: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:939] 
PHIL HEATLEY (National—Whangarei) 
: 
 For any members opposite who may be looking for a job after the Christmas break there is an opportunity to sit on the Veterinary Council. I know that the member from Dunedin South the Hon David Benson-Pope might be looking for a job over the Christmas break. I know he has been looking at his options. I understand that he has an offer to be a ballboy at Wimbledon but I do not think he is quick enough on his feet to take up that one. So he might like to stand as a member of the Veterinary Council. It might be a useful job for the Hon David Benson-Pope. 
There are other opportunities on the council. I ask the Minister in the chair the Hon Jim Anderton whether the veterinarian appointment has to be a veterinarian who holds a practising certificate because that has not been stated in the legislation. I would be interested to know that because members opposite may have tripped themselves up. I do not think Pete Hodgson holds a practising certificate and if he does not he may not be able to get this “job for the boys” and he will miss out altogether. 
I notice that there is no paragraph (e) in clause 69 to appoint a member of the council who does not sit on the council and who takes no responsibility for any other business. If there were such a provision we could have Winston Peters as the fifth member. He could sit on the council only for things relating to his particular skills which of course would be dealing with the equine industry. As the Minister for Racing he has an opportunity there. 
So there are plenty of job opportunities. Three veterinarians are to be elected in accordance with the regulations. Two laypersons are to be appointed by the Minister. David Benson-Pope is a possibility there. One veterinarian is to be appointed by the Minister by notice in the  
Gazette 
. The last is the person who for the time being is responsible for the veterinary science academic programme at Massey University—[ 
Interruption 
] Well there is a candidate. There are plenty of opportunities there for former Labour members of Parliament after the Christmas break. 
 I move to another matter clause 78. I took some practical steps and wandered along to the Bills Office regarding this particular matter. I was interested to see that the annual report by the Minister for that financial year has to be tabled in the House of Representatives 16 days after he receives it. Well the Bills Office has never received an annual report. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Darren Hughes’ heckling is so effective is it not! He has tripped me up what every 10 seconds in this speech! He has nailed me; I am on the cross. Darren Hughes is a phenomenal heckler. I tell members what would be more effective. After Christmas he will take his pills his voice will break and then there will be a deep voice booming across the Chamber instead of a little squeak and it will blow us off our feet. But up until now it is the small voice of Darren Hughes heckling the members on the other side of the House. He should come back when his voice breaks heckle us and he will be effective—he will knock us off our feet. 
Hon David Carter 
: Maybe they’ll drop before he comes back. 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: Yes they will drop over Christmas and the member will be an effective heckler. He will certainly take it to members on this side of the House. He will not have to squeak and carry on and we will respect him. 
Anyway I turn again to clause 78 “Annual report”. Subclause (2) states: “Within 16 days of receiving the annual report from the Council the Minister must present a copy of the report to the House of Representatives.” We have not had one to date. There are none in the Bills Office. There are none in the records. I congratulate the Government on the fact that presenting a copy will now be compulsory and the council will have that transparency. I will certainly be getting the annual report of the Veterinary Council to see the progress of its work over the next year with the passage of that particular measure. 
Darren Hughes 
: He has nothing else to do. He can’t get promoted. 
PHIL HEATLEY 
: Only dogs can hear Darren Hughes. Only dogs are put off when Darren Hughes heckles because his voice is so high.