Trevor Mallard is no longer Parliament's worst behaved MP according to the 2001 list of Parliament's 10 worst behaved
MPs, prepared by United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne.
The list tabulates the number of times MPs have been expelled from the Chamber, or asked to withdraw and apologise for
remarks made in debate to date during 2001 and is produced annually by Mr Dunne.
"It is not necessarily a comment on the effectiveness of these MPs, but is a clear statement on their behaviour in
Parliament that their constituents should note."
"The real story for 2001 is that overall this year, behaviour standards have improved markedly with only 8 MPs expelled
from the Chamber, and 46 MPs made to withdraw and apologise for remarks made in debate, compared to 18 MPs expelled last
year, and 55 being required to withdraw and apologise."
"Moreover, the number of individual misdemeanours is well down this year on previous years, only about 40% of the 2000
number, which is a very welcome sign that the publication of the annual list might be having an impact," Mr Dunne says.
Also, for the first time since the behaviour list began in 1998, Trevor Mallard is not the worst behaved MP, although he
still features prominently in the "Top 10."
The "2001 Top Ten" list is as follows, with the position on the 2000 Top Ten list shown in brackets on the right:
1. Nick Smith (National) 2 expulsions, 2 withdrawals, 1 naming (6)
2. Max Bradford (National) 3 expulsions, 4 withdrawals, (4)
3. Trevor Mallard (Labour) 6 withdrawals (1)
4. John Tamihere (Labour) 4 withdrawals, 1 expulsion (-)
5. Richard Prebble (ACT) 3 withdrawals, 1 naming (-)
6. Tony Ryall (National) 5 withdrawals (-)
7. Willie Jackson (Alliance) 4 withdrawals (8)
8. Bill English (National) 4 withdrawals (5)
9. Muriel Newman (ACT) 4 withdrawals (-)
10. Rodney Hide (ACT) 4 withdrawals (2)
11. Paul Swain (Labour) 2 withdrawals, 1 expulsion (-)
"On a positive note, disappearing altogether from the Top Ten are Gerry Brownlee who was 3rd last year; Winston Peters
who was 7th; David Cunliffe who was 9th; and Graham Kelly who was 10th, and Rodney Hide who was 2nd just scrapes into
this year's rankings," Mr Dunne says.
Ends