It’s a rare day I find myself agreeing with Winston Peters, in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s never happened. But given the circumstances of yesterday, I’d have to agree with Winnie; Trevor Mallard has lost the plot.
I mean I have actually used those exact words about Trevor Mallard before. When he spent half a million taxpayer dollars on a playground slide at Parliament, when he played the protestors the Macarena and set sprinklers in them, when he made false rape allegations and then used taxpayer money to fund his legal defence.
Also when he kept leaping to Ardern’s defence when she was a newly appointed PM and he seemingly thought it was the 1800’s as he constantly spoke on her behalf, all the times he’s thrown people out of the House for no reason other than a pet peeve with them. I mean the list is endless.
This guy is well past his use by date and I have no idea how he still gets to be there at all, let alone in charge of anything. If anyone should be banned it should be him. So if you’re not up with Mallard’s latest losing of the plot, he’s banned Winston Peters from parliament. Just like he’s banned Matt King, and every other person who turned up to the protest. Banned them for two years. Winston Peters has labelled this move ‘dictatorial’ and in line with ‘a banana republic’. It’s hard to argue.
Peters also says New Zealanders should not put up with such "totalitarian behaviour". I find myself still agreeing with him.
He also points out the PM shouldn’t put up with it either, but as we know, she tends to put up with everything, sack no one, hold no one accountable and when it comes to Mallard in particular, manages to turn a blind eye. What's the deal with her and Mallard? Does he have something on her? She seems so powerless around him.
So Winston’s taking legal advice, and knowing how litigious he is, this may cause pause for thought on Mallard’s part. Has he been too hasty here? Is it going to cost him a fortune in a legal drama?
Whose money will he use to fight that drama if and when it does unfold? How much of a headache does that give the Government? How many bad headlines do they want?
Crucially, I think Mallard has to ask himself, why does he behave this way? Why is he so driven by anger? Is he spending too much time on Twitter? Because I can tell you from out here in the real world, his antics are going down like a cup of cold sick. And the one thing Winston is good at – and remember I’m no Winston fan – but the one thing he is good at, is zeroing in on stuff the public hates. He’s got a good sense of this stuff.
David Seymour’s called Mallard ‘petulant’ and says it’ll wind up in court, it’s petty and gets us nowhere (again). Luxon has been more diplomatic and said it’s a matter for the Speaker, in fact he echoed the PM who said the same thing.
Which brings me to my next question, why is Luxon being so soft? Opposition is where you land the big hits and be bold. “A matter for the Speaker” sounds like a pass on a really simple question. But then again the Nats don’t have a lot of love for Winston so they probably don’t care.
But power hungry, plot-losing Mallard is a worry.. and what’s also a worry, is that I’m now agreeing with Winston Peters.
Kate Hawkesby is a political broadcaster on Newstalk ZB - her articles can be seen HERE.
5 comments:
Mallard needs to go. He is not a suitable Speaker of the House. Winston came across in his interview with Liz Gunn as a statesman like figure, so good on Winston! Luxon will only get the required number of votes( along with coalition parties) to get him to the PM position he is probably after for his CV. He won't really resonate with the majority of Kiwis as he doesn't seem to have any empathy with the ordinary people.
He has so far taken the same view as Mallard on most things to do with the protest in Wellington.
Luxon has no balls. When he kowtowed to the woke PC Aotearoians by saying that he would learn Te Reo he lost our votes. He Puapua, 3 Waters, Ecan unelected Maori seats, Rotorua unfair local Maori advantages, the list goes on and on and the silence from Luxon is deafening. Why is David Seymour the only politician with the guts to challenge the racist policies? Very disappointed ex National voters. Kiwialan
'Whose money will he use' - do we really need to ask???
Mallard did not ban "every other person who turned up to the protest", he trespassed (some but not all) 144 arrested people and only 7 others of which we know 5 to be current or ex politicians. So it is even worse than it looks at first blush, he specifically chose certain people to trespass, and the common element is politics. So petulant about covers it.
Mallard’s “mad as a hatter” behaviour is extraordinary and absolutely unacceptable given it abuses the large powers of the position. However what is worse is the support, acceptance, endorsement and encouragement of the PM.
This distopian New Zealand we find ourselves living in breeds such political creatures as Ardern and Mallard; we the people need to believe there is a credible alternative but it’s not Luxton, it’s his deputy. Hence another leadership turnover in the opposition has to happen NOW to have it bedded-in by the next election…… oh I’ve just woken up, it was all a bad dream.
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