We deserve better from Govt Ministers

Parekura Horomia is the latest in an increasingly long line of Government Ministers found wanting in their jobs, observes National's Shadow Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee.

"Marian Hobbs bungled Broadcasting and was sidelined in favour of Steve Maharey, while George Hawkins played second fiddle to Lianne Dalziel on leaky buildings.

"Pete Hodgson didn't have a clue about how to get on top of his Energy portfolio until Michael Cullen waded in and now Trevor Mallard's being asked to rescue Maori Affairs Minister Parekura Horomia," Mr Brownlee says.

"The public has every right to question the performance of Helen Clark's Ministry, which is the biggest in New Zealand's history.

"When senior ministers need help from their colleagues to answer simple questions, those paying the salaries need to know why," says Mr Brownlee.

"At least one of them isn't doing their job, while those helping out are being distracted from their day to day duties.

"The reality is that Helen Clark knows her Ministers aren't up to scratch, which is why she doesn't have faith in them to manage their portfolios by themselves," Mr Brownlee says.

"Instead she appoints one of her trusted few to ride shotgun for the weak and incompetent.

"The Clark Government has made a mockery of the phrase 'Ministerial Responsibility' and turned buck passing into an art form," says Mr Brownlee.

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