Insults fly across the House as MPs get personal

Margaret Wilson

Tempers flared in Parliament yesterday as MPs traded personal insults, and one was ejected for angrily refusing a Speaker's order to apologise for a simple interjection.

The latter, National MP Bill English, was one of four MPs asked to leave the House as Speaker Margaret Wilson attempted to impose order in the increasingly raucous lead-up to the election.

She had taken the almost unprecedented step of ejecting both Helen Clark and National leader Don Brash the day before.

Yesterday's jousting was triggered when Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff told National MP Nick Smith to "take his medication" after interjecting while the minister spoke.

The Government has frequently insulted Dr Smith with the suggestion, perceived as a reference to the stress leave he was put on by National in the wake of the leadership coup against former leader Bill English.

Yesterday it provoked an outburst from Dr Smith who, noting he hadn't taken any medication for years, accused the Government of getting "nasty and personal" whenever it was challenged. If this was the standard, he said, proceeding to become nasty and personal himself, "I could make reference to the Prime Minister's childlessness, to Lianne Dalziel's drunken spell in Hanmer Springs."

As Ms Dalziel gasped furiously, Dr Smith continued, asking Ms Wilson to rule "those sorts of personal insinuations are inappropriate".

Mr Goff said interjections were permissible but should be rare and reasonable.

"That member gets very excited and constantly chips across the floor. It was under that provocation I told him he did need to settle down and take medication. It wasn't particularly personal, it's something I'd say to any of the opposite side who gets overexcited."

Ms Wilson said the Hansard would record that Dr Smith was known for his interjections, that they should be rare and reasonable and that any response should be within the bounds of standing orders.

But she did not require the comments to be withdrawn, prompting an objection from Act MP Richard Prebble, who said this was unusual as both MPs had crossed the line.

Mr Goff and then Dr Smith withdrew their comments and Ms Dalziel asked to make a personal explanation.

"The implication I took is that I have been admitted to Hanmer Springs for drunkenness. That is a complete falsity. I have never been admitted to an institution for any purpose, let alone for alcoholism. It's an appalling suggestion."

Act leader Rodney Hide, the party's health spokeswoman Heather Roy and Health Minister Annette King also left the chamber after the Speaker asked MPs who had interjected during a debate to leave.

Later, in a clear reference to Mr Goff's medication comments, Education Minister Trevor Mallard told Mr English that he should "have a discussion with the member next to him as to one of the solutions for his problems".

Mr English had interjected to ask how long certain NCEA problems would continue.

Asked by Dr Brash to seek an apology from Mr Mallard for the personal comments, Ms Wilson sought one from both Mr English and Mr Mallard. She said the interjection had provoked the response.

Mr Mallard apologised but Mr English refused, saying, "I did not use any unparliamentary language."

Ms Wilson asked him to leave the House. Among the many points of order which followed, National accused Ms Wilson of missing Mr Mallard's "vicious innuendo" and claimed she was misreading standing orders.