Gallagher Martin: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
Gallagher Martin: Debate on Prime Minister’s Statement 
[Volume:629;Page:1208] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 What wishful thinking! In fact we heard that comment made in hope from a number of members of that party back in 2002. We also heard it back in 1999. 
I was walking down Lambton Quay today and I was looking at a copy of  
North and South 
 magazine that had the headline: “National Velvet”. I thought it was something about Elizabeth Taylor. I thought it was one of those reruns. The star of that movie was Elizabeth Taylor who has been suitored six or seven times. But no it was not. I had another look. It was not about Elizabeth Taylor; it was about John Key. What was obvious—I have not read the article yet—was that the John Key machine or what there is of it was getting the rumour mill going and starting the positioning. To the idea that Mr Key is under angst because he was somehow destabilising the leadership at their Taupo retreat I say: “Excuse me!”. 
I know that the member who has just resumed his seat is from Northcote and that like me he occasionally reads the  
Dominion Post 
. I do not often agree with the  
Dominion Post 
 but I found that the editorial on 9 February was interesting when it stated—and it is one of the most conservative newspapers in this country—that Dr Brash and his colleagues had not got off to a good start in 2006. I quote from that newspaper: “His caucus retreat should be concentrating on how to make Miss Clark unhappy. Instead it is too publicly devoting too much of its energy to the jockeying”—including that “National Velvet”—“among Dr Brash’s senior colleagues over who should be his replacement. Dr Brash knows how destabilising that sort of thing can be to a leader and that gossip and rumour can be destructive.” 
This is what was stated by the  
Dominion Post 
 a conservative journal in this country. I continue: “There are good reasons for Dr Brash’s leadership to be under question. National went close in 2005 but there are no prizes for second place in politics. There were gaffes and Dr Brash was responsible for a good number of them. He was embarrassingly unfamiliar with his own party’s policy and he failed to handle the revelation that the party had received support from the Exclusive Brethren with anything approaching the deft aplomb that was needed. The obvious successor is finance spokesman John Key but he is so far not showing the appropriate skills in pursuing what he has made all too evident is his ambition.” 
The editorial goes on to state that National has vast experience of doing these things quietly and that usually when it has a coup it is quiet it happens in the dead of night and the knives are drawn like in some sort of Roman drama— 
Darren Hughes 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I am sorry to interrupt my colleague but I notice that there are members in the gallery who are interjecting on the proceedings of the House. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: I did not hear that but members in the gallery will not do that. Please be quiet. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I can only assume that some of the National members are up in the gallery and have not realised that they need to come down to the Chamber if they wish to interject. 
The editorial goes on to state: “Mr Key’s strategy appears to be to do his own destabilising and to allow his willingness to take over to be obvious well before the ground has been prepared.” He needs more than the front-page of a glossy calling him “National Velvet” for that ground to be prepared. “This betrays an impatience and a political naivety that suggests he is not yet ready to tangle with Miss Clark.” 
This year 2006 we will see the unfolding of this great drama between Mr Key and the other contender for the leadership—not Mr Brownlee because he is trying out some back-bench seats or else he is moving around the back bench tonight to stay close. That is what a beleaguered leader does. He or she moves around and stays close to the back bench to see what the back-bench members are thinking and saying. The  
Dominion Post  
goes on to state: “Adding to the mix is the prospect that former leader Bill English may believe that he can become New Zealand’s John Howard and return from the political wilderness to become leader again. National’s MPs need to remember that voters do not elect parties that are unable to govern themselves. So far they show little sign of grasping that.” 
All I have heard this evening in the speeches from the other side of the House as speakers on this side have mentioned is incredible and appalling doom and gloom incredible negativity and an incredible selling-down of their country. What a pleasure it is to be a member of a positive and progressive Government that actually has a vision for this country and knows where we are going. This Government is on a roll and on the road unlike the members opposite who have to go to retreats in Taupo. We on this side of the House know that they are concerned about their future leadership. We would give Dr Brash a matter of months and the reason he is still there is only that the two major contenders do not yet have the numbers sorted to make that inevitable push—which will come. That is as obvious as night follows day. I am proud to be a member of a Government—[ 
Interruption 
] Obviously a prominent member of this Parliament has just joined us— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: I am sorry to interrupt the member. I ask that the gallery be cleared. People have been warned once about interrupting proceedings. I refer to the people who were clapping. 
A disturbance took place in the gallery. The gallery was cleared on the instruction of the Assistant Speaker. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I am not sure whether they were cheering. I hope they are not from my Labour electorate committee. 
Brian Connell 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. In fairness to my parliamentary colleague I think he should be given an extra 2 or 3 minutes to repeat those last few lines because I certainly did not hear them. He was interrupted. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley) 
: Please continue Mr Gallagher. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I thank Brian Connell for his genuineness and kindness. 
Hon Members 
: Ha ha! 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I have a lot of time for that member actually because he is an outspoken advocate. I do not agree with some of his philosophy but I served on the Law and Order Committee with that member and he was a good and hard-working member and I think frankly that the members opposite should value him better. I think he captures the real spirit of the National Party: the outspoken maverick. In fact we had one Mike Minogue as a predecessor in Hamilton West—he was a good outspoken member—and we had Dr Shearer and Marilyn Waring. I think that that member comes out of that stable and it is sad to see how little this miserable old National Party values an outspoken member who is prepared to call the shots as he sees them and give a bit of character and oomph into this Parliament. 
I want to take the time I have left to compliment the Prime Minister on what I thought was an absolutely brilliant speech. I am so proud to be a part of a Government that is overseeing an economy where unemployment is at a record low with the latest international consumer confidence survey finding New Zealand the second most optimistic country in the world. People would not believe it if they heard the doom and gloom merchants on the other side of the House but fundamentally we are on a roll in this country. The latest merchandise trade figures reported a rebound in exports and a fall in import values. December’s dwelling consent figures were on the upside inflation was down and our fiscal position is sound. But it does not stop there. That is just the good and wonderful base. 
On 1 April as has been mentioned by speakers on this side of the House it will be wonderful to see a big extension to our Working for Families package whereby 60000 more people will become eligible so that 350000 families will be entitled to family tax relief in 2006. That is what we are doing to help families unlike the sneering from the doom and gloom merchants on the other side. We are increasing the rate of superannuation and members opposite should hang their heads in shame because the last time they were near the Treasury benches lest we ever forget they cut superannuation. Of course the big winner with our young people and their parents is that no interest will be payable on student loans for those who stay in New Zealand. What a profound and wonderful investment in our young people! What a wonderful investment in the future of our country! 
Then on 1 July it gets better. There will be big improvements in the rates rebates scheme easing the burden of rates on many superannuitants and others on modest incomes. But it gets even better. The next phase of the roll-out of more affordable primary care occurs extending lower doctors’ fees and prescription fees through the primary health organisations to 45 to 64-year-olds. Members opposite can laugh but that is better still. I am so proud to be a member of such a wonderful progressive Government with vision for this country.