Mallard Trevor:  
Mallard Trevor:  
[Volume:654;Page:79] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 Mr Chairperson— 
Simon Bridges 
: Oh not again. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am allowed this call and two more and that is the democratic approach. Members opposite might not like it but the Opposition is here to oppose. But as I said earlier we need not be here opposing. I heard Bill English bleating about not being able to get to his electorate. He should talk to Gerry Brownlee because Gerry Brownlee will be stopping him from getting to his electorate all next week during the adjournment. If one looks at Darren Hughes’ desk one will see Labour’s amendments to Part 3 of the Local Government (Auckland Reorganisation) Bill. I tell Mr English that we can write new parts quicker than this Parliament can vote on them. So I say to Mr Brownlee that unless we can reach a deal we will be here until midnight tonight and midnight on Saturday and undoubtedly we will be back here on Monday until midnight then until midnight on Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday and next Saturday. 
I reiterate to Government members that there are members on this side who are bright enough to write probably two new parts in the time it takes to vote on one new part. The question we have is how long it will take to debate Part 3 or new Parts 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 or 12—we are already up to 16 new parts that are ready to go from Labour and the Greens. I ask National members when they will wake up smell the coffee and give up the contest about who can get higher up a wall. When will they give up that contest and agree that the people of Auckland should have a say on Part 3 of this bill? We are not saying it should be a big say. We are not saying that the bill should go to a select committee for 6 months; we are saying that it should go to a select committee for maybe 3 or 4 weeks. We are saying that maybe we should have 4 or 5 days of hearings in Auckland and 1 or 2 days here in Wellington. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. This is a robust debate and that is great but this member is now 3 minutes into his 5-minute speech and he has not mentioned Part 3. He has talked about parts that do not exist. He has talked about amendments that may or may not be in the pile of papers in front of Darren Hughes; we suspect that most of it is just unread paper on his desk. The member really does need to be brought back to relevance. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member might like to mention some of the content of Part 3. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Part 3 “Transitional arrangements” is the most substantive part of this bill. It is the bit that sets it all up. It is the operative part and that is why we want to debate this part. But more important this part—and probably the new parts that we will put in later on—is the part that the people of Auckland want to have a say on. Every person in Auckland has an interest in this part. Part 3 will mean that the rates go up by $750 per ratepayer. That increase will be a result of the implementation charges only. 
I ask members opposite why they are so chicken. Why are they so scared? Why has there been a judgment that they will not let the people of Auckland— 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. The bully-boy tactics from across the Chamber are interesting but we have really had enough. The member said that he wants to debate the bill; he needs to get back to this part of the bill. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member cannot question somebody’s courage. We are on Part 3 and the member has a minute to go. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Thank you Mr Chairperson. 
I make it clear that the effect of this bill is to put 6300 jobs in Auckland on the line. Maybe some of those workers the people who represent them the people from the private sector organisations who want to take their jobs—because that is part of Rodney Hide’s plan for this new council—or even the people whose pockets will be lined as a result of this legislation in the name of Rodney Hide should be allowed to have a say on this bill. The Business Roundtable should be able to have a say; the Employers and Manufacturers’ Association (Northern) should be allowed to have a say; and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions should be allowed to have a say. Even John Banks should be allowed to make a submission on this bill. Even Christine Rankin who will chair this group— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: What about Jason Gunn? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Well a whole pile of people should be allowed to have a say on this bill.