National loses the plot in Parliament

Written By: - Date published: 4:40 pm, May 24th, 2018 - 91 comments
Categories: Gerry Brownlee, national, Parliament, paula bennett, Politics, same old national, trevor mallard - Tags:

If this afternoon was the result of National’s strategic big wigs in action they need to get new ones.

National took on Trevor Mallard in Parliament and lost.

I have watched the videos and still have no idea what the game plan was.

They started off with a letter containing an ultimatum which Mallard stared down.

They sought to get Mallard to respond by way of point order.  He refused.  This made them look weak and powerless.

They then engaged in a number of ridiculous points of order that were that far off point they were easily disposed of.

Then there was the sight of the petulant David Bennett dragging out a simple requirement for him to withdraw and apologise after making an out of order interjection.

After that Paula Bennett was kicked out for repeated interjections, specifically when Mallard was on his feet.

Hipkins outlined for National what they have to do, which is to set down a notice of motion if they want to take the matter further.

I suspect that this will be the next step that National takes.

Here is the video playback.

Bennett can’t say she wasn’t warned.

91 comments on “National loses the plot in Parliament ”

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  1. Kat 1
    24 May 2018 at 5:05 pm

    National are proving just how irrelevant they are. They have no real plan to be an opposition rather just winging it until the next election where they firmly believe they will be on the other side of the house. They are looking in far worse disorder than Labour were in 2009.

    • Bunji 1.1
      24 May 2018 at 5:40 pm

      If you can’t score points against the other team… attack the ref?

      • katipo 1.1.1
        25 May 2018 at 12:51 pm

        Was thinking a similar thing, it’s like when player keeps on whinging when a sporting decision hasn’t go their way.

  2. McFlock 2
    24 May 2018 at 5:09 pm

    I especially liked that Hipkins had to tell them how to do their fucking job. Several times, because they didn’t change plan the first time, just stuck to an exercise in irrelevance.

    Hilarious

    • Baba Yaga 2.1
      24 May 2018 at 6:28 pm

      Utu for when National had to show Hipkins how to do his job over the election of the speaker? Seriously though, the point about Mallard leaking to the media is a serious one.

      • Fireblade 2.1.1
        24 May 2018 at 7:35 pm

        “Seriously though, the point about Mallard leaking to the media is a serious one”.

        Yes Gerry Brownlee has accused Trevor Mallard of leaking to the media. If there’s no proof, then Mr Mallard should sue Brownlee’s ample ass for defamation

        • Baba Yaga 2.1.1.1
          24 May 2018 at 7:41 pm

          Yes, let’s see if he does. And if he doesn’t?

          But the issue really is that there is ample proof. Mallard is the only one in the house who heard the remark. The remark was not picked up on any broadcasting medium, or by the authors of Hansard. There is no-one else who could have leaked the remark. And given Mallards hearing challenges, I’d suggest he made it up.

          • Robert Guyton 2.1.1.1.1
            24 May 2018 at 7:54 pm

            Baba Yaga said: “Mallard is the only one in the house who heard the remark.”
            Given that you accept that he did hear the remark, why wouldn’t he quote it to the media when asked?

            • Baba Yaga 2.1.1.1.1.1
              24 May 2018 at 8:00 pm

              I don’t accept he heard the remark. As for quoting it, if he considers it unparliamentary, and no-one has admitted it, his repeating it to the media is also unparliamentary.

              • Robert Guyton …
                24 May 2018 at 8:04 pm

                If you don’t accept that he heard it, why did you write, ““Mallard is the only one in the house who heard the remark.”
                I think you have confused yourself in your rush to attack Trevor Mallard.
                No one has admitted saying it, you say? Indeed, that’s the issue. The Speaker heard it, and the person who said it has failed to own up. The rest is Natty noise.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  24 May 2018 at 9:26 pm

                  “If you don’t accept that he heard it, why did you write, ““Mallard is the only one in the house who heard the remark.””
                  Have you ever heard of sarcasm?

                  “The Speaker heard it, ”
                  And the speaker is, by his own admission, significantly deaf on that side. No-one in the opposition benches heard it. It is not detectable on any media. And it wasn’t recorded in Hansard. Hence the sarcasm.

          • Robert Guyton 2.1.1.1.2
            24 May 2018 at 7:56 pm

            Wrong again, Baba Yaga. The person who made the remark could have spoken to the media, as could any number of those seated nearby to him. Just because the National MPs are saying they didn’t hear it, doesn’t make it true. In fact…

            • Baba Yaga 2.1.1.1.2.1
              24 May 2018 at 8:01 pm

              There is no evidence anyone made the remark. That’s the point. The only one who heard it is partially deaf with a huge axe to grind.

              • Robert Guyton …
                24 May 2018 at 8:06 pm

                There most certainly is evidence that the remark was made: the Speaker of the House heard it and felt obliged to stop proceedings and ask for the culprit to come forward. That person did not. You aren’t using logic, Baba in your argument.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  24 May 2018 at 9:28 pm

                  ‘the Speaker of the House heard it’
                  The significantly deaf speaker heard it, but no-one else did, and there is no recorded record of it. I am indeed using logic. There is no evidence except the ‘hearing’ of a significantly deaf individual. How would that go down in court?

          • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1.3
            24 May 2018 at 8:03 pm

            There is at least one other person who knows exactly what was said, and knew from the moment they said it.

            Plus, National Party ethics.

            • Baba Yaga 2.1.1.1.3.1
              24 May 2018 at 9:32 pm

              What we know is who used a sexist remark to Judith Collins. It was David Parker.

              What we do know is that it was Trevor Mallard who called Chris Finlayson ‘Tinkerbell’.

              Labour Party ethics?

              What we know is that it was Metiria Turei who committed benefit fraud.

              What we do know is that Gareth Hughes has to ask his sidekick what he thinks.

              And then there’s the Green MP who a Jewish NZ’er has had to ban from contact on social media for anti-Semitic remarks.

              Green Party ethics?

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                25 May 2018 at 10:24 am

                “They did it too!”

                Where’s your personal responsibility now?

                • Baba Yaga …
                  25 May 2018 at 10:52 am

                  You’d have a point if I was actually arguing that. What I was pointing out was that ethics and politicians are foreigners to one another. Including politicians you support.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    25 May 2018 at 1:06 pm

                    ” ethics and politicians”
                    Nonsense, again, Baba Yaga. I personally know politicians who act ethically, have strong ethical positions and keep to them whenever they can. I also read about National’s MP’s, so I know where your belief comes from.

      • McFlock 2.1.2
        24 May 2018 at 10:35 pm

        lol
        “leaking”. It was hardy restricted information. It was said in the House. Public information.

        • Baba Yaga 2.1.2.1
          25 May 2018 at 10:21 am

          ‘It was said in the House.’
          Prove it. There is no proof. None. Oh perhaps the word of a half deaf speaker?

          • McFlock 2.1.2.1.1
            25 May 2018 at 1:07 pm

            His word is good enough for what goes on in the House. You want to call him a liar, you prove that.

            • Baba Yaga 2.1.2.1.1.1
              25 May 2018 at 6:13 pm

              His word isn’t good enough. He has made a claim, and repeated it to media. That is now backfiring majorly on him and the PM, as it gets repeatedly endlessly in Parliament and the media. He should put up his evidence or stand, withdraw and apologise.

              • McFlock …
                25 May 2018 at 6:21 pm

                lol
                Like Brownlee, you have no idea how the House works.

                • Baba Yaga …
                  25 May 2018 at 6:36 pm

                  How the house works is irrelevant. The speakers credibility is at stake. He has claimed someone said something which no-one else heard, and for which there is not a shred of evidence. But oh how the PM must hate hearing ‘stupid little girl’ over and over and over…

                  • McFlock …
                    25 May 2018 at 6:46 pm

                    Toryboy stylez right there: the rules are irrelevant, your demands must be satisfied.

                    Every time you guys say “stupid little girl”, it’s a reminder about how incapable you lot are at dealing with her as a strong leader.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 6:54 pm

                      The rules would be important if they were even moderately relevant to this conversation. They aren’t.

                      As for JA, I’m just waiting for her to turn around so we can see Winnies hand tied to her back.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 May 2018 at 6:58 pm

                      As Hipkins pointed out, if you morons have a problem with the speaker, there is a procedure to go through to resolve that issue.

                      Otherwise you’re just whining like the losers you are. All bleat, no action.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:14 pm

                      Gosh I would have thought calling for honesty in the Speaker of the Parliament was a reasonable request! Seems not if your a lefty.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:30 pm

                      Oh, I think he’s being honest. But your impotent bleats are like music – just think how inconvenient it would be for labgrn if you guys could mount a decent opposition rather than being cowards making barnyard noises and pretending innocence.

                    • Robert Guyton …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:36 pm

                      Those “barnyard noises” … quacking, like ducks? I’ll bet that’s what the juvenile fools did…quacked like (Mallard) ducks! That’s where it sits, ladies and gentlemen, MP’s from the National Party, quacking like … ducks! Imho.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:37 pm

                      “Oh, I think he’s being honest. ”

                      You think. You have no evidence. In fact it is astonishing there is no evidence.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:43 pm

                      On the one hand we have Mallard. On the other we have brownlee and shouty.

                      That’s some pretty good evidence right there. Certainly sufficient for a citizen to draw a conclusion about who’s lying.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:44 pm

                      “That’s where it sits, ”

                      I well remember the hysteria from the left over the last speaker. Now that was clucking.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:45 pm

                      “On the one hand we have Mallard.”

                      Who is deaf in the ear he claims to have heard something that no-one else present heard. Good try McFlock.

                    • mickysavage []
                      25 May 2018 at 8:48 pm

                      No he said he is slightly deaf in one ear. If you look at the video he is looking at Bridges at the time he says the incident happened.

                    • McFlock …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:54 pm

                      Oh, some people claim to not have heard anything. Mallard claims to have heard something from their area. I know who I believe.

                      But let’s say Mallard ignores this issue and, in your opinion, loses all credibility. What happens then? Whatis “at stake” if the nats whine about Mallard but never bother with the actual process to address their perceived injustice?

                      Because it looks to me like nobody else in the House believes them, and nobody gives a fuck anyway. All your bleating seems to be completely repercussion-free.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    25 May 2018 at 8:34 pm

                    The “Speaker’s credibility” is not at stake, though you’re desperate to frame it that way. The behaviour of the National Opposition is what’s under investigation and I’m guessing, they’ll come out looking … like fools.

                    • Baba Yaga …
                      25 May 2018 at 8:40 pm

                      Yep, his credibility is at stake. He has made a claim alleging a comment no-one else heard. This is of course against the backdrop of his increasingly arbitrary and petulant displays in parliament.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    25 May 2018 at 8:49 pm

                    “But oh how the PM must hate hearing ‘stupid little girl’ over and over and over…”
                    No, Baba Yaga, you duffer, that’s music to her ears! All New Zealanders who hear it think, “That’s not right! She’s … actually, pretty good!”
                    National, shooting itself…in the … whatever !

          • Robert Guyton 2.1.2.1.2
            25 May 2018 at 1:07 pm

            “half-deaf”?
            Can you define that for us, given that you’re making the claim. Trevor can hear how well, exactly; you claim to know.

          • Robert Guyton 2.1.2.1.3
            25 May 2018 at 1:11 pm

            “Prove it”, you squeak.
            Earlier, you claimed there was no evidence. There was; the statement from the Speaker; evidence, that’s what evidence is. Now, you demand proof from a commenter on a blog. Are you becoming a little light-headed with all this Natty noise, Baba Yaga? How could someone here provide proof? Let’s test you though: you’ve claimed Trevor’s “half-deaf” and couldn’t hear well enough for his word to be reliable; prove it.
            (Hint: you can’t)

            • McFlock 2.1.2.1.3.1
              25 May 2018 at 1:34 pm

              baba’s just bleating the latest flailing excuses from Shouty’s dismal opposition.

              The poor wee chap hasn’t had an original thought since kindergarten.

            • Baba Yaga 2.1.2.1.3.2
              25 May 2018 at 6:06 pm

              The speakers statement is not evidence. Given his known deafness, it is barely worthwhile for anything.

              • Muttonbird …
                25 May 2018 at 6:08 pm

                The Nats were desperately shouting it not 10 meters away. Hard to miss, Baby aga.

              • Robert Guyton …
                25 May 2018 at 8:31 pm

                The Speaker’s statement is evidence: are you, dare I say it, stupid ?

                • Baba Yaga …
                  25 May 2018 at 8:42 pm

                  The speakers statement is his statement. It is not evidence when he is making the claim. Evidence would be corroboration, you know, like another MP having heard the comment. Or the comment having been picked up on any recording or by Hansard. Your just clutching at straws.

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    25 May 2018 at 8:51 pm

                    You
                    do
                    not
                    understand
                    what “evidence”
                    is
                    Baba
                    Yaga

                    • fender …
                      25 May 2018 at 9:43 pm

                      Evidence points strongly to there being more Baa Baa than Baba about this Yaga.

                  • fender …
                    25 May 2018 at 9:22 pm

                    So if you get pulled over and ticketed for not wearing a seat-belt you will claim the officer has no evidence???

                  • Robert Guyton …
                    25 May 2018 at 9:31 pm

                    Baba. Take a break. Make some enquiries. Get back to us. We’re a forgiving lot. Mostly.

        • Robert Guyton 2.1.2.2
          25 May 2018 at 9:11 pm

          Baba is struggling. It’s a bit sad to watch… but fun at the same time 🙂

  3. Robert Guyton 3
    24 May 2018 at 5:14 pm

    Trevor’s the rock National is dashing itself to pieces on.
    Rock on, Trev!

  4. bwaghorn 4
    24 May 2018 at 5:14 pm

    My guess is they are trying to provoke the hot headed mallard in to a melt down .
    They hate democracy and will try to destroy this government at any cost

    • Anne 4.1
      24 May 2018 at 5:30 pm

      My guess is they are trying to provoke the hot headed mallard in to a melt down.

      That is exactly what they are doing. They should know better because Mallard has been in parliament since the beginning of the 1980s and no-one knows Standing
      Orders better than he does.

      It is a premeditated attempt to stare him down in the hope he will blink first. They think because there’s 42 of them and only one of him they will win. I think they’re right out of luck.

      • bwaghorn 4.1.1
        24 May 2018 at 5:54 pm

        Nothing feels sweeter than not letting arseholes get to you.

        • Cinny 4.1.1.1
          24 May 2018 at 7:14 pm

          Nothing feels sweeter than not letting arseholes get to you

          mos def, Bwaghorn.

          Those nats are throwing tanties and wobblies all over the place, super amusing from here, but it must be incredibly frustrating for Trev, and its an utter waste of taxpayers money.

      • alwyn 4.1.2
        24 May 2018 at 9:50 pm

        “because there’s 42 of them”.
        You sound thoroughly confused Anne.
        None of the parties in the New Zealand Parliament has “42 of them”, at least if by that you mean MPs..
        The closest is the Labour Party with 46.
        Clearly you must believe that it is the Labour Party that is trying to destroy Trevor. I knew he was unpopular but not to quite that extent.
        Please tell us more. What is their next step?

        • Anne 4.1.2.1
          25 May 2018 at 10:42 am

          Yeah alwyn. I mixed up the percentage gained by National with the actual number of MPs. Tried to change it before timed out but couldn’t re-access comment.

          If lprent is around my details are not appearing again. Have to fill in box each time. A few comments disappearing. Have tried many times to ‘Log In’ but system doesn’t like me. 🙁

          • dukeofurl 4.1.2.1.1
            25 May 2018 at 10:54 am

            Same happening with me. I think its a security measure.
            There is no login for commentators . I think thats for contributors

          • alwyn 4.1.2.1.2
            25 May 2018 at 11:56 am

            “system doesn’t like me”.
            Join the club.
            It gets really frustrating when you type the comment before putting in the name and so on and then you lose the lot. I really should learn to copy the whole thing before I hit submit.
            Almost equally frustrating is if you make a typo in the Mail box, get it slightly incorrect and it vanishes off for hours into the “new chums” box for review.

  5. Matthew Whitehead 5
    24 May 2018 at 5:18 pm

    Here is the exchange at the beginning that Micky alludes to:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch&v=i2T3BeAcDJ0

    • Grey Area 5.1
      24 May 2018 at 5:36 pm

      404 Not Found for me Matthew.

    • dukeofurl 5.2
      24 May 2018 at 5:41 pm

      The video doesnt normally give the sound for interjections, which those in the chamber can hear.
      I understand thats deliberate for microphones not to relay interjections unless they are right next to the person speaking.
      I think national well know that as well.
      Hansard wont have interjections either except in some circumstances when its a legit part of the debate

  6. Craig Glen Eden 6
    24 May 2018 at 5:26 pm

    Mallard did well, National not so much. The Government needs to get out and sell/sail its policies while National are left smashing themselves against the rock as Robert Guyton states above.

  7. Allan Alach 7
    24 May 2018 at 5:55 pm

    Trevor must have felt like he was back in his teaching days trying to handle a class of unruly adolescents. That’s the standard of behaviour that National exhibited.

  8. ScottGN 8
    24 May 2018 at 5:59 pm

    So while National have been playing silly buggers in the House the Transport Minister has offered to resign for talking on his phone after the plane doors were closed. Nice illustration of just how irrelevant the Opposition is at the moment.

    • alwyn 8.1
      24 May 2018 at 9:56 pm

      Why, oh why, did Labour not take the chance to get rid of the most spectacular example of an idiot in the Cabinet?
      They should have accepted his resignation and got rid of him from everything and for good. That would have been the really sensible thing and by far the best thing for both the Government and for New Zealand.
      Bloody fools. They missed their opportunity and now he will continue his stupid behaviour,

  9. Barfly 9
    24 May 2018 at 6:32 pm

    That picture brings to mind the quote “the banality of evil” – they look so ordinary

    • Katipo 9.1
      25 May 2018 at 1:06 pm

      True!
      & symbolic, that an issue galvgalvanizing the National Party into collective outrage is about themselves.

  10. greg 10
    24 May 2018 at 6:37 pm

    speaker mallard should double the punishment nact are spoiled little kids who have lost the play thing our taxes to steal i think speaker mallard is doing a fantastic job and the fact nact are upset proves hes on the right track

  11. cleangreen 11
    24 May 2018 at 7:57 pm

    “National took on Trevor Mallard in Parliament and lost.”

    They shure did loose today, as they looked like a shunned mullet when trevor pulled them up.

    Shit it was so exciting to see them sqirm on their chairs and whale as Paula Bennet got the sack and David Bennet tried to get at Trevor instead and he tackled him to the floor (literally) .
    National have gone nuts.

  12. greywarshark 12
    24 May 2018 at 8:24 pm

    Nice pic. The Class of 2018. They’re on the carpet already!

  13. mac1 13
    24 May 2018 at 9:48 pm

    Ms Bennett said tonight that they decided in the National caucus not to have a mass walk-out today at question time.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/05/it-s-got-personal-paula-bennett-says-speaker-mallard-has-personal-vendetta.html

    “Ms Bennett said Mr Mallard is singling her out in a personal vendetta.

    “Shadow Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee denied any deliberate goading of the Speaker on the part of the National Party.

    “I think we went in in good faith, hoping to meet halfway,” Ms Bennett added. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable for him to have addressed our letter that was actually serious concerns we have.”

    Let’s examine those three reported statements.

    Bennett repeatedly misbehaves in the House resulting in her being told to leave, is disrespectful to the Speaker while he is ruling on a point of order and on his feet. She dares to say she went in there to meet him half way.

    Brownlee denies any deliberate goading of the Speaker. That is not what I saw in Question Time today on TV. I saw a lack of decorum, deliberate challenging, repeatedly done.

    They issue the Speaker an ultimatum by saying respond to this letter by 2 pm Thursday, and call a non-response unreasonable?

    They ignore proper procedure when in serious disagreement with the Speaker by not choosing to have a Notice of Motion, but instead offer an ultimatum to the person who is so highly ranked that he is third in the country behind the Governor-General and the Prime Minister.

    What Ms Bennett has said is contrary to facts.

    She said in the news item cited. “”I knew he would be gunning for me and thought he might throw me out given a chance.”

    She deliberately gave him the chance. For her to say that her conduct today was meeting someone half way is a travesty of the truth. I can see why she never got the job as Leader of her party. Can anyone imagine Winston Peters or James Shaw’s reaction to being met ‘half way’ in that manner in coalition talks?

    She, and Brownlee, have gone to the media, knowing that the Speaker may not. He can’t get down in the gutter with this crew and slug it out in the papers.

    Gutless, petulant, vindictive, narcissist, despicable behaviour.

    I am angry that these National MPs drag down the good name of Parliament, of our system of democracy, of the institution of the Speaker, because they can’t handle themselves, the pressure, the idea of defeat, the idea that they just may not have what their supporters and backers want, because they fear they are losing.

    They have one honourable way out. Go to Parliament with a Notice of Motion. Persuade them of the justice of their cause. Hear the verdict of their peers in the highest council in the land.

  14. cleangreen 14
    25 May 2018 at 8:20 am

    National is equal to civil dis-obedience sadly as part of a criminal act of sabotage on our parliamentary system.

    I would not be surprised if ex-National speaker David Carter was behind this unruly strategy as he is strangely quiet over this isn’t he just now?

    Remember he was (according to Trevor Mallard) assisting him in his new job for awhile earlier.

    Greg is 100% correct as national are embarking on a ‘mob rule’ action now in an attempt to sack the new government and should be hauled over the coals by the PM and her Parliamentary Crown Legal team for attempting to take over the elected Government as they always refused to recognise MMP from the beginning.

    This is the end result of a ‘dysfunctional mob rule opposition’ now we see ahead and must be arrested before we descend into anarchy.

    National = akin to mafias.

    welcome to a third world opposition party form of unruly government if National get back in again.
    scary times ahead.

    Labour need to firmly take control here.