Pettis Jill: General Debates 
Pettis Jill: General Debates 
[Volume:613;Page:9727] 
JILL PETTIS (Labour—Whanganui) 
: 
 I say to the ladies and gentlemen out there in radioland that that was “Big Ger” Gerry Brownlee who when I saw him on television the other night—and I am not criticising any member who is not in the House at all—reminded me of the line in that famous play: “Friends Romans countrymen … I come to bury Caesar not to praise him”. “Big Ger” really enjoyed the fact that there was somebody else feeling far more miserable than he was on that day. 
I also say that the mood in the National Party is glum. Although the special atmosphere in Parliament may not seem that important out there in the big wide world in politics the feeling of party members is incredibly important to the morale and spirit of a party. I have to say that I have never seen that lot over there the National Party so dispirited in the entire time I have been in here—in fact for the entire time I have been an observer of politics and that is more than 40 years. 
Simon Power 
: That can’t be right. The member looks so young. 
JILL PETTIS 
: I know it does not look like it but it is true. I have to say that the mood over there is remarkable. I am commenting on it because it really is significant. There is no spunk. There is no fight. There is no verve. There is no get-up-and-go. It is no wonder I referred to Mr Brash as “Moga-Don” because I know that that is absolutely how those members feel and how they present themselves at the moment. In fact I suggest that Mr Brash might like me to take him to Smithfield market in Britain. An experience at Smithfield market could give Mr Brash a helping hand in elocution lessons. 
Simon Power 
: For television? 
JILL PETTIS 
: My word it takes them a long time to drop to a joke over there. They are not quick are they? I would be very happy to take Mr Brash to Smithfield market. In fact I would enjoy it because by golly gosh listening to him today he was as flat as a flounder. 
Simon Power 
: How much is flounder? 
JILL PETTIS 
: Flounder? Five bob. Any more bids on five bob? I would not give that party over there two and six at the next election. They are to coin another phrase dog tucker. So they would not be worth even two bob. 
One of the other flat-footed things they have done over the last 48 to 72 hours that concerns me is that they have completely abrogated their responsibility towards the women’s vote. They have completely given it away because they know they have only a miniscule level of it anyway. I have to say that those Tory women over there who think they got to where they are today all on their own are just proving how selfish and self-centred they are and how unable they are to think towards the future. No woman on that side of the House got where she is today because of her own talent charm and good looks. Those women got there because a good group of women in New Zealand fought for many many years for women’s rights women’s pay and better conditions for women—and that is why we need to have women spokespersons advocates for women instead of the selfish attitude that is portrayed by those members. The only woman on the National front bench mirrors the image of Ruth Richardson. She is almost her namesake. She is Ruth Richardson’s acolyte. She is a younger version and is not quite as tough as the previous one but she could grow that way. That appointment is not encouraging to me either. 
National Party supporters out there in the real world must be cringing. Sure there has been a tiny lift in their vote—we accept that. We knew that was quite likely to happen. 
Opposition Member 
: So death catches up! 
JILL PETTIS 
: Well it is actually a case of“ 
Dead Man Walking 
”. Members know it. We can read the body language. We can see the mood. We know that those members over there are not full of the joys of spring at all. I tell those members that a niche party a pressure group is not enough to be elected as a Government and that is all National is—a pressure group.