GEORGINA BEYER (Labour): What a disgraceful display we have seen from the Opposition in this House this afternoon. I believe that this House should take out an ad in the “Situations Vacant” columns, because we actually have a vacant position for an Opposition in the House today. However, we do have to have some consideration, because National does have a leadership problem. Not only does the leader have to contend with a tired, boring, old front bench, but not at one point this afternoon have we heard any policy. All that the Opposition members can do is to chip away at the very decent work that we have been able to achieve under this Labour Government in the last 6 years.

I heard Mr Williamson go on about what he terms a transport debacle. We do not expect behaviour in this House whereby members throw papers around the Chamber. If the fans in this place had been turned on we would have been sprayed with confetti, given the way that member went on. [Interruption] Well, it would have been confetti of a sort, because that is what seems to exist within the minds and to occupy the time of the people who call themselves the loyal Opposition. If there was one, we would be pleased. This Government is sick and tired of having to remind New Zealanders why they put us back in Government: because the policies that have been delivered under a Labour-led Government for 6 years have indeed delivered.

With regard to transport—good heavens! Mr Williamson was the Minister of Transport under the leadership of a National Government, and Better Transport, Better Roads rings with infamy as far as transport at that time is concerned. We have increased significantly, many times over, the funding provided for roading. On that matter, given our ability to be flexible and given the current global economic position to do with petrol and other fuels and things like that, we have taken a prudent stance. We may have to wait a little, but the projects are still on the road. Let us not forget that the report that members on the Opposition side of the House think they will make such capital out of is a draft report. They will not make capital out of it.

Let us get back to the Opposition’s leadership issue, because that is the real problem members opposite have.

Hon Mark Burton: What leadership?

GEORGINA BEYER: Precisely! As my eminent colleague asks, “What leadership?”. There is no leadership. The display by the Leader of the Opposition in the general debate today was nothing short of pitiful. It was pathetic. I could not even hear the member. He could not even raise his voice enough to be heard. In fact, I wonder whether this is not the first time he has taken part in a general debate in this House. That was disgraceful, coming from the leader of a major party. I would single out every other party leader in this House as being able to deliver something very credible and very reasonable most of the time—but not that leader.

I watched the faces of Don Brash’s caucus members. They looked horrified. They smiled most determinedly through his speech, but I have to inform the listening public that their consternation was palpable. Why? Because they have a flip-flop leader. They have a leader who wants to turn up to events and take to the stage, but who scuttles away as soon as he feels that the climate is not quite warm enough for him. He runs away from facing the people. I had such an experience recently. I will not reiterate it, because I mentioned it last week—if anyone cares to read my speech in Hansard.

I urge this House to give serious consideration to placing an ad in “Situations Vacant” listings across the country for a loyal Opposition. We simply do not have one. That is disgraceful in the forward-thinking democracy that this Labour-led Government embraces. We want to transform our economy, and members on the Opposition side of the House continually talk the country down. They do not want to give New Zealanders opportunities, as we do. We in the Government are inclusive in our responses to the community, and we listen. I have to inform the listening public that Opposition members do not do that very well, at all. I have brought them to silence now, I must admit, so I will concede that they like listening to me. That is most entertaining, I know, from time to time.

I have managed to be as kind as I possibly can be. I offer the hand of help to the Opposition and say that if it needs a few tips, it should come and talk to those of us who experienced being in Opposition long ago. In fact, it is so far in the past now since National was in Government that we have almost lost that institutional knowledge. We intend to keep it that way—to remain on the Government side of the House, leading this country towards a transformed economy that is inclusive of young and old and of families, and that offers all the opportunity anyone could ever want.