4. STEVE CHADWICK (Labour—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister of State Services
Has she received any further recent reports regarding progress on the joint therapeutic products legislation?
Hon ANNETTE KING (Minister of State Services) Link to this
Yes. Since last Wednesday I have seen a number of reports. Today I want to comment on four of them. These reports are from the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Key, on being asked whether he would support a compromise two-tier system, said he would and he could. Then, later, he said he could not and would not. Later still, he said he could not because he would not. Finally, he said he did not because he had not. He reminded me of that character in the Dr Seuss story Green Eggs and Ham, who could have, would have, and should have. If members of this House are confused, I have to tell them that they are nowhere nearly as confused as the Leader of the Opposition is.
I have read a number of comments, particularly from some very good journalists in New Zealand. For example, Audrey Young of the New Zealand Herald strongly asserts that the Leader of the Opposition clearly stated that if such a proposal were put in front of him, he would sign it. I have also read the comments of Colin James in today’s , who said Mr Key has “stayed on the low ground in points-scoring politics, got tongue-tied in word-fights with the Herald—and dragged the Australian High Commissioner into domestic politics, a seriously un-prime-ministerial act.” When Mr Key finally makes up his mind, I suggest he gives us a call.
Hon Tony RyallI seek leave to table a report from the esteemed journalist whom the Minister was quoting, which says that it now appears that Annette King’s two-tier scheme was not the same as Winston Peters’ two-tier scheme, and maybe she would like to tell us where the confusion comes from.
Madam SPEAKER