Carter David: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
Carter David: Local Government Law Reform Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:632;Page:3729] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (National) 
: 
 This bill the Local Government Law Reform Bill is the most dopey legislation we have seen come into this Parliament in a long period of time. I start by thanking Helen Clark and Michael Cullen for giving us such a defining issue so soon in the electoral cycle. Mark my words the people of New Zealand will remember this issue when the real stench of decay from this Government finally settles and we go into a general election. The dog microchipping legislation the Government is trying to ram through tonight will be remembered by New Zealanders at the polling booth. 
New Zealanders will also well remember how the political parties have positioned themselves on this issue. I note the fact that at least the Labour Government has been consistent. It has said it will be stupid and now it is here tonight enacting that stupidity with this legislation. We know where New Zealand First has been. It has been blindly stupid. The baubles of office were offered to Winston Peters he rolled over like the true poodle that he is and he took every other poodle in New Zealand First with him. New Zealand First members will support the Government. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: Will he be microchipped? 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: He certainly should be. 
Let us look at who has consistently opposed the legislation. The National Party has opposed this legislation from the time Chris Carter introduced it as a Supplementary Order Paper a few years ago. I pay tribute to my parliamentary colleagues who have worked the country—all the Federated Farmers meetings—collecting those 10000 signatures on a petition in the name of Kate Wilkinson. A petition with 10000 signatures to be tabled in Parliament tomorrow shows how much of a concern this issue is and I thank my colleagues for their work in achieving that. 
I will now look at the other smaller parties because New Zealand voters deserve to know about them. In fairness to the Greens they have been absolutely consistent in their opposition to this legislation. The ACT party has been consistent. The Maori Party since it arrived in Parliament has been consistent in its opposition to the legislation. So we are left with the one party that will determine whether this law passes tonight—that is United Future. 
I can do no better to highlight United Future’s position than to quote from a printout from my computer today. It is a New Zealand Press Association highlight of the week in politics that had this to say about that member Gordon Copeland: “They say that every dog has his day but for United Future MP Gordon Copeland his tough talk over microchipping of dogs lasts only a few hours. In the morning”—this is from Tuesday of last week—“Copeland claims to have the Government in a corner saying they will have to back his plans to exempt farm dogs or face total defeat. By the afternoon Gordon Copeland rolls over and plays dead.” That was from the New Zealand Press Association—it knows how much gumption Gordon Copeland and United Future have over this issue. 
Christopher Finlayson 
: No gumption. 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: They have no gumption at all it appears. But we live in hope. United Future members changed their minds within a few hours last time they took a substantial position and there are still a few hours to go. Gordon Copeland may be in a position where common sense will prevail. He will know that his party’s votes will determine whether this microchipping fiasco is foisted on all dog owners in this country. 
National has two substantive amendments which we will have a chance to vote on later on tonight or maybe tomorrow depending on how long we are allowed to have this debate. One amendment exempts all farm working dogs and the other amendment exempts all dogs. At this stage what might happen is that the way those votes are cast will depend at the end of the day on United Future—Peter Dunne and his team including Gordon Copeland. So here is Gordon Copeland’s opportunity to actually front up stand by his tough talk of a week ago put the Government in a corner and let us see whether we can defeat the Government. If we are not successful then it will be substantially because of United Future—and Doug Woolerton but we know that we are wasting our time with Doug.