Peters WinstonRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister): That was audition number one. Out of 10: one. The next will be worst of course and this speech is for the National Party's backbench because their front bench is moribund defunct. They are not going to last if they want to be anywhere and have shape in the 2020 election.Can I just say this has been a most blistering week. It's been very hard to focus on one's work or to get one's colleagues focused on one's work because the moment we're trying to be positive and get on with running the country we are sidetracked by constant media questions as to: what do they think it all means? What it really means is doughnuts for National—that's what it really means. Here's the point though you know: yesterday you saw the National Party about to invoke the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act—about to invoke the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act. Just three weeks ago who said this: It is an affront to New Zealand's core values of freedom of speech of respect for democracy and of tolerance of dissent." "a blunt tool to nail dissenters."? Guess who said that? [Interruption] No—the master of cant duplicity and doubletalk Nick Smith.And then three weeks ago this is what David Carter said in sharing his conscience with the country. He said he "wouldn't want to stay in [the] National Party … if my conscience … was curtailed". He went further: "It is … a sad day for … democracy". Chris Bishop never to be left out of course said it was anti-democratic and then Mr Brownlee who was so pleased that his contest for the job is gone said it was a travesty and yet yesterday—yesterday—Hon Christopher Finlayson: You were thrown out—you were thrown out.SPEAKER: Order! Order! [Speaker gestures to himself]Hon Christopher Finlayson: Oh you were thrown out on plenty of occasions.SPEAKER: And if it wasn't so funny so would you be.Hon Christopher Finlayson: I'm going anyway; I can't stand too much more.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yeah we know you're going—in fact you're gone and have been for a long time.Can I just say as the Good Book says by their deeds you will know them. So yesterday someone challenged the veracity of the leader of the National Party—and he said things far far worse and they'll be on those tapes—and instead of saying "Let's find out what the evidence says." no they rushed to yet dispel someone who's asking legitimate questions about whether the law's been broken and much much more. And then of course Paula Bennett decided to get down into the trench with trolls and started being personal with family allegations. I would've thought with the greatest respect to her she's the last person to make those allegations. Make no bones about it. She would be the last person to make allegations like that. But I don't want to get personal.Can I just say that Simon Bridges is a goner. His No. 1 achievement has been to become New Zealand's No. 1 blame-thrower. He blames everybody but himself. He went out and faced the country with all that money and the further that he went the more we loved it because the more they saw and perceived what he was like. In fact his negativity polling was 16 just about three weeks ago; now I'm told by their internal polling it's past 25. That's irrecoverable territory. But here's the point: you can't trust what this man says. He said on 14 August—to what I might call RNZ's "Reporter B"—that "he might never get to the bottom of who leaked the information before it was due to be published but … it was not his caucus."—not in his caucus.The other characteristic of this brilliant leader is he can't go anywhere without a support crowd. Now we all know that features of leadership are grit self-belief and determination. A lot of my colleagues have got it on this side of the House. A lot of my colleagues they evince it but no not this man. He can't go anywhere without a morale support crowd. [Holds up photo of Hon Simon Bridges holding a press conference] Excepting this bunch behind me I'd have a mirror in front of me to make sure I can see over my shoulders. Now would you feel assured by the "Crusher" behind you? I wouldn't. But here comes the point: they're all going to take over in a contest to be the next leader and not one of them rates more than 2 percent."