18 December 2000

MALLARD STILL PARLIAMENT'S WORST BEHAVED MP

Trevor Mallard is still Parliament's worst behaved MP according to a list of Parliament's 10 worst behaved MPs, prepared by United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne.

The list tabulates the number of times MPs have been expelled from the Chamber, or asked to withdraw and apologise for remarks made in debate, since the current Parliament began in December 1999, and updates a similar list prepared by Mr Dunne in 1998.

"It is not necessarily a comment on the effectiveness of these MPs, but is a clear statement on their behaviour in Parliament that their constituents should note."

"So far this Parliament, 18 MPs have been expelled from the Chamber, and 55 have been made to withdraw and apologise for remarks made in debate."

"In many cases the incidents are isolated ones, but there are some recalcitrants as the 'Top Ten' list shows, and by far the worst is Trevor Mallard who topped both the 1998 list and the current list," Mr Dunne says.

The "2000 Top Ten" list is as follows, with the position on the 1998 Top Ten list shown in brackets:

1. Trevor Mallard (Labour) 4 expulsions, 28 withdrawals (1)
2. Rodney Hide (ACT) 4 expulsions, 10 withdrawals (5)
3. Gerry Brownlee (National) 4 expulsions, 8 withdrawals
4. Max Bradford (National) 2 expulsion, 13 withdrawals
5. Bill English (National) 2 expulsions, 8 withdrawals
6. Nick Smith (National) 1 expulsion, 9 withdrawals
7. Winston Peters (NZ First) 1 expulsion, 9 withdrawals (2)
8. Willie Jackson (Alliance) 1 expulsion, 5 withdrawals
9. David Cunliffe (Labour) 1 expulsions, 5 withdrawals
10. Graham Kelly (Labour) 1 expulsions, 4 withdrawals

"On a positive note, disappearing from the 1998 Top Ten are Phil Goff who was 3rd, but who now does now feature at all; Lianne Dalziel who has improved from 4th to 41st place and Michael Cullen who has improved from 6th to 26th equal place."

"The fact these Ministers have all improved their behaviour so dramatically highlights how ill-disciplined and in need of anger management Mr Mallard is."

"Willie Jackson and David Cunliffe join the list as the worst behaved new MPs," Mr Dunne says. Ends

ENDS

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