Smith Nick: Urgent Debates — Hon Maurice Williamson—Ministerial ResignationText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSmith Nick: Urgent Debates — Hon Maurice Williamson—Ministerial Resignation[Sitting date: 06 May 2014. Volume:698;Page:17502. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Conservation): The only people in this place who have not made mistakes are those who have actually not done anything. In this instance Maurice Williamson made a mistake he took responsibility and he resigned as a Minister. The person whom he inappropriately phoned on behalf of was prosecuted and convicted by the courts. On both instances justice has been done.The member who has just spoken Jacinda Ardern has wanted to talk time lines and her leader has wanted to talk about standards. I am happy to engage in that. From the time the Prime Minister knew of Mr Williamson’s conduct it was 36 hours later that Mr Williamson resigned. I challenge the member to compare that with the record of theprevious Government in a far more serious offending. Members will recall Taito Phillip Field. He did not just break the rules of theCabinet Manual; he committed a corrupt criminal offence for which he went to prison. What was the time line on Mr Taito Phillip Field I ask Ms Ardern. She is now hanging her head and so she should because it was not 36 hours. It was not 36 days. It was actually a whole lot longer than 36 weeks. So I say to members opposite that before they get on their high horse and before they start throwing stones in this glass house they should reflect on their own record of vigorously defending Taito Phillip Field under indefensible circumstances for many many different months and contrast that with the way in which the Hon Maurice Williamson acknowledged that he was at fault took responsibility and resigned.It was with an element of sadness. I think Maurice Williamson is a talented person who has given this Parliament and this country great service whether it is in information technology—and I have a particular interest and I have big boots to fill in the role that he has been playing around the regulation of buildings for earthquakes—and I think we would all acknowledge that his infamous rainbow speech was a positive contribution to this Parliament. So it is with sadness.But equally though I say that anybody who questions the high standards that the Prime Minister John Key sets for this administration overlooks the record and overlooks the facts. There was nothing more ironic Annette King than hearing Mr Cunliffe lecture us on standards at the same time as he continues to refuse to divulge who the major donors to his secret trust were. He lectures us on transparency at the same time.Hon Annette King: Who had the dinners at the restaurant Nick?Hon Dr NICK SMITH: Well my point to Ms King is this. We would not know whether Mr Cunliffe has dined at a dinner with his major donors because he will not disclose who the donors are. That is a very clear contrast.We have heard this afternoon in this debate members speak as though it was an invitation for an orgy of mud-slinging. I just simply say to members of this House and particularly members opposite that I know why they do not want to debate the Budget. I know why they do not want to debate the state of the economy—the strong job growth and the increasing economic confidence. I know why they do not want to debate with Judith Collins crime being at its lowest level in 30 years. I know why they do not want to debate with Tony Ryall the state of the health service. I know why they do not want to debate the improving education standards. It is because the truth is that when this Parliament focuses on debating the issues that matter there is only one choice for New Zealand on 20 September. Members opposite want to engage in an orgy of mud-slinging because that is their only hope. That is their only hope—that they might be able to drag down this Parliament and drag down politics in New Zealand in the hope that some of the mud might stick and they might be able to crawl their way back to the Treasury benches. I simply say to this House to get a grip. Maurice has acknowledged responsibility. He has resigned. Let us get on with the issues that matter.