7 December 2006
Where the bloody hell are ya?
"Almost missing in action." That's the verdict of the Leader of the House, Dr Michael Cullen, after the debut
performance of National's new leadership team.
"I expected far more than just one question each for two days effort in the House.
"I am glad Mr Key seized on one of the most important issues facing this country -climate change - for his first
question as leader. It simply exposes the frailty of his belated conversion to the problem.
Mr Key has plenty of work to do to prove his credibility over this issue having spent the past four years as an MP
denying global warming. He is after all the man who has called climate change a hoax, yet just last week said he had
always believed in it.
"And no question yesterday from Mr Key and only one from Mr English on an issue that's past its used-by-date. Neither
contributed to yesterday's general debate either so we have been denied a chance to hear their much-lauded debating
skills for now. Just as under the failed Brash leadership, it was left to Gerry Brownlee to shoulder the burden.
"Mr Key has clearly been reaching out to middle New Zealand in a vain attempt to be Labour-lite. He should therefore be
disappointed in Lockwood Smith for yesterday deciding to vote against $140 million of tax cuts for low and middle income
Kiwi investors.
"It is a feeble parliamentary start for the new team. National's new leaders have a lot more work to do if they are ever
going to distance themselves from the lies, deception and secret policy agendas exposed in 'The Hollow Men'", said Dr
Cullen.
ENDS