Jones Shane: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Jones Shane: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:974] 
SHANE JONES (Labour) 
: 
 I rise to support this bill. Veterinary science is a remarkable profession and what a profession it will be as a consequence of vets enjoying the benefits of Labour’s remarkable student loan scheme. It is hard to imagine a more meaningful contribution that members on this side of the House have made to that profession. However in thinking about that profession I would say that it is necessary also to expedite the return of the kindergarten teaching profession because there is much work to be done amongst the speakers from the Opposition we have heard tonight. They need that sort of assistance. 
The Opposition has shown a great deal of interest this evening in the role and importance of a vet. Of course I am reminded of the role a vet plays in putting down the family pet. We have heard a great many accounts of cats and dogs but when I look across the Chamber I wonder what pet National members are preparing to put down in their obsession with this bill. Is it an English Pointer? Is it Mr English who upon hearing the guns during shooting would flee constantly stiff and apprehensive? Or is it Mr Brownlee who is living proof that climate change is dislocating a range of species—not the least of which is the beached walrus? What role will the vet have there? Let me continue. Perhaps it is a Blue Heeler. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The whole House knows that I am a very sensitive member and I understand that Mr Jones was attempting to insult me with his comments. Apparently—according in particular to the ACT party—I am also a very slow member but I do not understand what Mr Jones was saying. I wonder Mr Deputy Speaker whether you could indulge the House by allowing Mr Jones an extension to his 10 minutes so that he might explain his insult and so that I can feel the full brunt of his attack upon me. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I thank Mr Brownlee. He was entitled to raise the point of order if he felt offended. I think he is drawing a long bow really to think that Mr Jones made the comment to him or about him even though Mr Jones might have meant it to be that way. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The man just stood up and said that I was a beached walrus. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: No he did not. I heard it and I say that he did not. But I am prepared to accept the member’s point of order. I do not want it to continue on. I do not accept that Mr Jones made the comment about the member or to the member but if the member is offended I have no doubt that Mr Jones will withdraw it. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: No I am not offended; I am simply in need of further explanation. 
SHANE JONES 
: There was no intention to offer offence. Firstly the walrus was a fictional thing. [ 
Interruption 
] Oh I can hear the Tauranga tugger—or is it tigger? The reference to the walrus can hardly have been offensive because a walrus is not indigenous. 
Let me continue on with the other roles that vets obviously have according to the discussions we have heard this evening. Well my fellow representative from Whangarei Mr Heatley during the course of the evening generated some heat but precious little light in relation— 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There is debating material and there are outrageous claims. I tell Mr Jones that for him to say that he is a representative of Whangarei is an outrageous claim. He is a Labour Party list lackey and that is what he should describe himself as. [ 
Interruption 
] 
SHANE JONES 
: The tugger has an unusual interest in the crotch but more about that at a later date— 
Bob Clarkson 
: Point of order— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I just say to Mr Jones that I think we have had enough references to members in the House. Those references should not be made that way. 
SHANE JONES 
: We have heard a number of references this evening about the importance of the veterinary profession. Obviously Labour is of the view that this bill advances vets and protects the brand unlike the view of a host of members of the Opposition who historically through their policies have undermined the brands of guilds trades and professions. Through the removal of the appropriate recognition and the necessary training and funding those trades and professions have degenerated over the last 10 years. That is why this bill is an overdue improvement on the way in which those things were treated in the early to mid 1990s. 
The bill also refers to how it will be necessary to improve the number of professionals working in areas that are not represented purely by members of the National Party. Those areas are also very well known to Labour and represented by us. This bill is a good idea and will not only improve the prospect of our having more vets—indeed that will occur through our student loans policy—but also provide an opportunity for those who come from overseas to have their professional qualifications and talents perhaps gained from other parts and warmer climes recognised. Those qualifications and talents will be used in the pursuit of animal health and rural infrastructure and in general contribute to the pastoral economy which is something this party is proud to have driven fantastically well. Opposition members will hear a great deal more about that over the next 3 years as they sit very lonely in a neglected part of the Chamber. 
Hon David Carter 
: It won’t take that long. 
SHANE JONES 
: Mr Carter says that it will not take that long but this evening we have been subjected to extremely long and tedious speeches that show that the Chihuahua of the House from Piako did not understand that a very well-trained pet knows when to respond to a question. If National members had not pursued the strategy they pursued this evening we would have had question time tomorrow. 
There are a number of doctors in the National Party as well and I am particularly interested in the reference that the proposed legislation makes to emulating the qualifications framework and process that doctors go through. 
Debate interrupted.