Mallard Trevor: General Debates 
Mallard Trevor: General Debates 
[Volume:608;Page:5188] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 Today Bill English proved once again why he should not lead a party of any sort anywhere and certainly not in New Zealand. He will never be Prime Minister and members opposite know that. All members opposite know that in their hearts. The only ones who are shaking their heads are Nick Smith and Wayne Mapp. They are the two people who know that when there is a change they will go to the back. They know that. They are the ones who are shaking their heads. 
Today Bill English accused an independent committee of New Zealand’s top clinicians of covering up severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars). He accused an independent committee of experts of covering up Sars. One of the things we rely on especially from a former Minister of Health is respect for people who put their reputation on the line. He said that they covered it up. Every one of those people will hear that and I challenge Bill English to put something into his spine and say that outside. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That phrase—I want the member to move on now. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: What a sad party we have over there. Two weeks ago Bill English promised to talk to Maurice Williamson; they would have a discussion and Maurice would get a real job a full-time job that would be right for his talents. But nothing has happened. He has dropped the ball again. He promised that he would do it. He promised that he would use the talent. Why? Because he would have to shift Nick Smith or Wayne Mapp back and if he was doing it absolutely correctly he would have to shift Gerry Brownlee back. Everyone knows that Maurice Williamson has more talent than every one of those people put together. 
Despite promising to sort out the situation during the adjournment Bill English has yet again dropped—[ 
Interruption 
] Maurice was so embarrassed at being praised! He is such a modest character and someone who is so supportive of the National Party and its future. He could not stand to listen because he knew that it was absolutely right. Bill English has failed to deliver. 
Earlier today I talked about State sector leadership and the need for some of that from the National Party. I indicated that one does need to look beyond the current people who are clamouring beyond the Gerry Brownlees and Don Brashes who are looking for the job. I have heard that there are people opposite who are about to approach Jim Bolger and that they are trying to find someone who will resign his or her seat to let him back into Parliament. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Absolute rubbish! 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Our leader is not coming fourth in the preferred Prime Minister poll in the way that the leader of members opposite is. I hear that they are looking around and thinking about sacrificing one of their members for Jim Bolger to come back into this House. To get the experience knowledge and leadership that they are so desperate for—and frankly Jim Bolger looks even fitter than he did when he was here; he looks like he is ready for it and it would not be a bad idea. To be a good Government an effective major Opposition party is needed and we just do not have one at the moment. I encourage members opposite to think about that. 
My other point is that they do need to look at where they can get some coaching. The Rt Hon Winston Peters has just come into the House. Could he just share 1 percent of his charisma with Don Brash? If he did that Don Brash might have a chance. If Don Brash had 1 percent of the Rt Hon Winston Peters’ charisma he might have an appeal to slightly beyond the group that supports him at the moment. What a sad lot of contenders there are in the National Party!