Mallard Trevor: General Debate 
Mallard Trevor: General Debate 
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Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 I think we have had two speeches from National now. Although the last one was louder rather than more logical at least it had a bit of style and a wee bit of substance to it which contrasted with John Key’s speech. I must congratulate John Key though. This was the first time I have seen him stay in the House past 3 o’clock this year. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am pleased that John Key was here for the entire question time today. It is something I have not seen from him for quite a long time. He appears to be able to work until about a quarter to three and then he has to run off and have a break. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I know it is a stressful job. I know he is finding it hard— 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member knows the Standing Order about referring to a member’s absence. I think he has now referred to it three times and you have not stopped him. It is actually out of order. That means it should not occur and you are allowing it to occur. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Can I say Mr Assistant Speaker that I am sure you heard me refer to the member’s presence. I did say that it was an unusual thing but I was referring to his presence and not to his absence. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I thank the member. I also say that I called for order several times as an indication. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Today I celebrate John Key’s presence in the House for the entire question time. It is something that I welcome. It is a wonderful thing. He normally runs away because he cannot take it. 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I ask you how long you will allow this member to defy the Standing Orders. You brought his attention to it then I raised a point of order you ruled on it—quite appropriately—and now he has got up and done it again. I do not think you can allow him to consistently defy the Standing Orders and to now defy you. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Mr Assistant Speaker as I am sure you are aware there is no such Standing Order. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I just say for the benefit of all members that they should refer to Speaker’s ruling 23/8 which states: “It is a convention that we do not make reference to the fact that a member is away or is not in the member’s seat.” I think that is quite clear. I ask the member to come to order and to continue. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am pleased that John Key was here for the entire question time today. It is such an unusual event. It is something that I want to celebrate. I commiserate with him for the pressure that he is under and for the fact that the bags under his eyes are looking more like mine and will approach Mike Moore’s as he goes on but it is clear that John Key has not been enjoying his job recently. 
We are wondering what flop will follow the flip that John Key is heading towards now. We are listening really carefully. We heard him go on about asset sales—it took only a day between 5 March and 6 March this year for him to flip-flop on asset sales. It took him a lot longer when he flipped on Iraq. On climate change it took a year and 5 months for him to change his view from “It is a complete and utter hoax.” to “I have always firmly believed in climate change.” It took him a year and 5 months to make that decision. 
We are wondering what John Key is wrestling with at the moment in trying to make a decision. You know I wonder whether it is that he should seek out Tame Iti and hongi him again. Is that what he is trying to work out? Well he did not have the bottle to say no. He did not have the backbone to say no. He could not stand up to Tame Iti and say: “I will not hongi you because I do not think it is appropriate.” He could not do that. He is not strong enough and if one is not strong enough to do that then one is not strong enough to be a leader of a political party in New Zealand. I look around the Chamber. I look at Rodney Hide; I know that Rodney Hide would not do something as unprincipled as that. I know that Winston Peters would not do something as unprincipled as that. I know that even Jeanette Fitzsimons would not hongi Tame Iti in those circumstances. 
I would say that the National Party is clearly looking at its leadership. It is looking at Bill English and it has heard a relatively strong if not that logical speech from that member compared with a weak comic performance from John Key—the sort of weak comic sort of performance that even Gerry Brownlee can do better. If John Key is to demean himself by doing Gerry Brownlee imitations in the House then that is a very very sad place for him to be. 
This debate of course is mainly about 1 April and the changes that occurred then. The adult minimum wage is up to $12 an hour. Nine increases have been made by this Government and every single one of them was opposed by National members. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: How much did they increase the minimum wage? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Tell me; I do not have it in my head. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: By 87c. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: National increased it by 87c in 9 years and for young people it has gone up $7.80 in the entire time that Labour has been in Government. 
New Zealand First members were helpful in that matter and I thank those members. They helped focus the issue and kept us going and I know that they want to do that again and keep it going in the future. We know that the only way they could do that would be through having a similar arrangement with Labour as they have now. 
John Key wants wages to drop. He told a northern newspaper that he wanted wages to drop. He then said that he did not mean it that he did not say it that he had not finished his sentence yet and that it was the sort of thing one says in a cafe.