12. Hon PETE HODGSON (Labour—Dunedin North) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Why did he lose confidence in Dr Richard Worth as a Minister?
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister) Link to this
I refer the member to the Prime Minister’s response to question No. 12 on Tuesday.
Why did the Prime Minister release a press statement on 3 June stating that Dr Worth had resigned, but then say on bFM radio 8 days later that “I sacked him. Yeah, I sacked him.”?
The member may wish to litigate the details, but the results of the whole process are pretty clear. Mr Worth did not enjoy the confidence of the Prime Minister. Dr Worth has now left Parliament and is a private citizen.
Why did the Prime Minister tell the House on 3 June that he lost confidence in Dr Worth on the afternoon of 26 May, but tell Leighton Smith a day later that he lost confidence in Dr Worth 3 or 4 days after 26 May?
The outcome of these events is pretty clear-cut. The Prime Minister acted swiftly and decisively because he lost confidence in Dr Worth. Dr Worth has left Cabinet and he has left Parliament. He is a private citizen.
The Prime Minister moved decisively, which is more than can be said of the performance of the previous Government, which allowed incompetent Ministers whom the former Prime Minister did not have confidence in to sit around for months while collecting salaries.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was a very simple question about whether the Prime Minister lost confidence in Dr Richard Worth suddenly or progressively. The question was not addressed.
Mr SPEAKERIt is very difficult for the Speaker to try to insist on the member defining what is suddenly or progressively. The answer was that the Prime Minister moved swiftly, and I guess that the answer indicates the fact that the loss of confidence was pretty swift.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was not about how the Prime Minister moved, but, clearly, about when his confidence was lost. The question was about whether he lost confidence progressively or suddenly. That is different from the swiftness of the sacking once confidence had been lost, and it was a—
I hear the honourable member. I invite the member to think about what he is putting to the Speaker. Once the Prime Minister loses confidence, that is the end of the matter. It is not something that can happen progressively, because until that point confidence is not lost. I invite the member to carry on with his supplementary questions.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. If that is how the Minister should answer the supplementary question, could I perhaps get another chance to ask it?
In respect of conversations between the Prime Minister and Dr Worth in the first week of this month, why did the Prime Minister tell Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB on Friday, 5 June that “The only conversation I had with him was on Tuesday night.”, but tell Paul Henry on Breakfast on Friday, 5 June that “I spoke with him yesterday.”? Did he speak with Dr Worth on Tuesday, 2 June; on Thursday, 4 June; on both days; or on neither day?
It is typical of the Opposition’s style of politics that its members focus endlessly on the details of the process. This Government is about results. The Prime Minister moved swiftly and got decisive results.
I ask the Hon Bill English to not answer the question by launching into an attack on the questioner about the questioner’s behaviour or performance. The House deserves an answer that is a little more focused on the question asked. I invite the Hon Bill English to answer the question again without attacking the questioner.
The Prime Minister has brought to this Government a decisive style. He works for results, in contrast to the previous style of Government, which focused endlessly on the process.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I draw your attention to the question in summary. The Prime Minister has said two things about when he spoke to Dr Richard Worth. I asked the Deputy Prime Minister, on behalf of the Prime Minister, which one of those two things was the case. I have written records of the two interviews. They are inconsistent—
We should not debate the issue. I will give the member a further supplementary question, although he has plenty of supplementary questions left with which to state his question absolutely precisely.
In respect of conversations between the Prime Minister and Dr Richard Worth in the first week of this month, why did the Prime Minister tell Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB on Friday, 5 June that “The only conversation I had with him was on Tuesday night.”, but tell Paul Henry on Breakfast on Friday, 5 June that “I spoke with him yesterday.”? Did the Prime Minister therefore speak with Dr Worth on Tuesday, 2 June; on Thursday, 4 June; on both days; or on neither day?
Because of the recession, since that time several thousand people have joined the unemployment benefit, and the Prime Minister has been focused on that issue. He would have to go back and consult his diary on the details of those conversations, which the Opposition seem to regard as being more important than thousands of people losing their job.
I would expect, given the Opposition members’ attention to detail, that that is a question that they no doubt know the answer to. The Prime Minister is focusing on the things that matter.
The question that was asked was pretty specific about a retired member retaining the title of “Hon”. I believe that the question deserves an answer. There is probably public interest in the matter. It may be that the issue is not known yet.
Hon Rodney HideI raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. If members had listened to the Minister’s answer, they would have heard that he did answer the question. He said he does not know and does not care. That was a clear answer to the question.
I invite the Minister to further answer the question. If that is the case, then that would be a perfectly adequate answer, obviously.
The Prime Minister has not taken the trouble to establish that minor detail, given the very significant issues this country faces with the recession and thousands of people losing their job. But I welcome advice from the Opposition members, who clearly know the answer.