Oxford-educated, former police prosecutor Simon Bridges has always been thorough when perusing proposed legislation. As National’s justice spokesperson he has been all over the banning conversion therapy bill like a rash and found it wanting. Attorney General David Parker? Not so much.
Using the media’s usual ridicule approach, Ryan Bridge (deputising for Duncan Garner) suggested (words to the effect) that National was being draconian in not supporting the first reading, rather than simply asking for an explanation – the less biased approach.
When Bridges said that National supported the bill in principle but was concerned, like Crown Lawyers were in their advice on the bill, that parents could be prosecuted for giving advice to a child (like advising a 12-year-old against taking puberty blockers), Parker’s response was uttered in a teeny weeny voice that not even one journalist heard!
“I haven’t read it“.
David Parker
(He’s a bit like Robertson, who consistently ignores Treasury’s advice because he knows better.) This is the guy who would be making decisions around the bill when it’s made law.
Imagine the media’s response if the boot were on the other foot and National were the government. (They would not be shoving such a flawed bill through, so relax, this won’t happen when they get re-elected in 2023). It would be up in neon lights.
The reason they were right to not support the bill at first reading is because it has got masses of publicity. National was predictably ridiculed by the government and an ignorant and left-leaning media who mostly had not read the bill and certainly not the Crown Lawyers’ advice.
And the PM using one of her most impressive euphemisms to date: “Drawing out a lot of disappointment”.
That gave left-wing blogger Martyn Bradbury the chance to come out guns blazing (using lots of the f word), damning the government for not considering the points Bridges was making. (Imagine Bradbury supporting ‘Tory’ Simon!) Other government MPs scolded Bradbury over his outburst. I love it when the left fight amongst themselves.
National’s immigration spokesperson, Erica Stanford, during her impressive interview on immigration on The Nation (in Kris Faafoi’s absence whilst in witless protection), when asked about the bill, said she has put her trust in Bridges to convince the government at select committee to change it so they can support it.
Don’t hold your breath, Erica. As Bridges has said, the government has shortened the time frame and want to ram it through to take the public’s mind off all their other failures.
Don’t forget we are dealing with a social justice focused, ideologically driven regime (logic, reason and common sense not applicable; that’s National and Act’s domain. Much more boring, but less dangerous).
If only National had taken this approach when faced with the Carbon Zero Bill last term. Not supporting it through the first reading would have drawn the public’s attention to the massive changes they intended to make if they got into government (seven in all).
It would have benchmarked their point of difference (like they are doing now) and put them on a better footing with the farming community who thought they had gone over to the dark side.
However, (future leader in waiting) Todd Muller’s advice was to support his mate James Shaw, and the rest is history.
Please share so others can discover The BFD.
