Speech to Parliament, Thursday November 22 2007

ACT Leader Rodney Hide was today disappointed that Speaker Margaret Wilson had turned down his complaint of privilege against Labour Minister Trevor Mallard for assaulting National MP Tau Henare.

United Future’s Peter Dunne, the Green Party’s Keith Locke, ACT’s Heather Roy and the Maori Party have today called for the repeal of sedition laws in New Zealand.

Following are speech notes Heather used at a joint press conference held on 24 April 2007 with United Future and the Greens calling for the repeal of sedition laws.

Accountability? Not With Labour At The Helm Like many people I was initially surprised by the finding of "not guilty" in the trial of Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards and the two former policemen, Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum, who had been facing charges of raping a woman in Rotorua in the 1980s. However, as surprised as I was, politicians have to be cautious about second guessing the courts, so I feel the need to remind myself that the jury heard all the evidence while I have been exposed to no more than selective media coverage. Normally, under such circumstances, I would leave things at that.

Rodney Hide says that ACT will support Don Brash's Bill enabling National to pay broadcasters $112,500 for election advertising, and is inviting the Labour Party to repay taxpayers' money used to produce Labour's pledge card.

ACT Leader Rodney Hide today called on Helen Clark to stand down yet another Cabinet Minister while a proper investigation is undertaken of the allegations by Investigate Magazine against Attorney-General David Parker.

ACT Justice spokesman Stephen Franks today described his service on Parliament’s Constitutional Arrangements Committee as an “unsatisfying duty”. 

Today's Oral Questions to be read in the House of Representatives commencing at 2pm. Return to this website at 2pm today to watch the questions live or read the Hansard responses from 5pm.