Hon Margaret Wilson
Speaker of the House of Representatives

Speech to farewell
David McGee CNZM QC
Clerk of the House of Representatives

Grand Hall, Parliament House

5pm, Thursday 25 October 2007

May I welcome you all here this evening. I know there were many who would have liked to have been with us but have sent their apologies.

We have gathered, after the unusual early rising of the House to say our farewells to Dave McGee, the Clerk of the House, Queen’s Counsel and Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and to acknowledge his contribution to Parliament.

Dave has given service to Parliament for almost 34 years, 22 of them as Clerk of the House. He has made a tremendous contribution to Parliament for which we are all grateful. He is truly Parliament’s man and it is difficult to envisage the institution without him.

We are fortunate that Dave’s talents will continue to be put to good use as he is leaving to become the third ombudsman. The qualities he demonstrated as Clerk of the House – those of independence, credibility, impeccable integrity and a sense of the importance of tradition and constitutional institutions will serve well in his new role.

David Graham McGee was born in 1947 at North Shields, Northumberland, England which explains his life-long addiction to Sunderland Football Club. He graduated in 1970 with a BA in Busines s Law with First Class Honours.

We are fortunate he left the country of his birth and emigrated to New Zealand where he first worked in the Trade Practices Section of the Department of Trade and Industry, before joining the Legislative Department in 1974 as an Assistant Clerk of Committees. He became Clerk of Journals and Records in 1974, Second-Clerk-Assistant in 1975 and Clerk-Assistant in 1976. He completed his professional examinations in law the same year and was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court in 1977. He was promoted to Deputy Clerk in 1984 and then Clerk of the House of Representatives in 1985.

The longevity of Dave’s service to the House and the quality and number of his publications are distinctions in and of themselves, but his most important contribution has been guiding the House through a period of significant change. He was a member of the Officials Committee on Constitutional Reform in 1984-85 and as a member of the Electoral Referendum Panel in 1992-93 he played an important role in making sure the public could make an informed choice about whether and how to change our electoral system. Perhaps his most notable contribution has been negotiating the Parliament through the transition from the first-past-the-post to a Mixed Member Proportional system of representation.

Following the decision to adopt MMP, Dave advised Members on the changes to Standing Orders, the establishment of the Business Committee, and most importantly the incorporation of the principles of proportionality into all aspects of the procedures and operation of the House. His advice was sought and influence seen in such Acts as the Public Finance Act, the Crown Entities Act, and the Parliamentary Service Act, though I fear not enough of his advice was followed in the case of the latter legislation. Innovations such as the referral of international treaties to select committees for examination before ratification, procedures in Standing Orders incorporating the principle of natural justice, allowing people to respond to allegations made against them in debate in the House or in the course of select committee meetings, the rules relating to the declaration and registration of members’ pecuniary interests, all owe much to the advice and wisdom of the Clerk.

While Dave understood that Parliament had to change, he did not lose sight of the traditions that had served the House well over the previous 150 years.

Over the years, Dave represented Parliament and the Office of the Clerk at a number of conferences. Most notable was the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s conference in Mauritius in 1976 where he met Danièle, who was to become his wife. Their’s is a remarkable partnership with Danièle taking a keen interest in Dave’s work, hosting visitors and arranging spouses’ entertainment during Parliamentary visits. Thank you Danièle for your contribution.

Dave is also recognised as a leading expert on parliamentary practice throughout the Commonwealth. He undertook a consultancy mission to the Parliament of Fiji for the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 1999 and in 2004 he was a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat mission to the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. At home he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Public Service Chief Executives Forum from 1998 to 2000.

He is a published author of books, articles, papers and reviews. His latest book The Budget Process – A Parliamentary Imperative was launched at the recent Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in New Delhi. Perhaps his greatest legacy Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, is now into its third edition and stands as a testament to the fact that his reputation as the doyen of Clerks who serve parliamentary democracies is well deserved.

Amongst Dave’s huge list of publications – over 50, or more than two a year for the period he has been Clerk - are five editions and one supplement of Speakers’ rulings. As a Speaker they are invaluable, and he could always provide the relevant ruling to fit the occasion.

Many of the qualities necessary in a Clerk of the House can be achieved only by a combination of experience and considerable flexibility. The demands on the Clerk are considerable. Dealing with Members of Parliament is not a simple matter and as the number of Members has increased the work of Parliament has expanded. As the complexity of the institution has increased so, too, have the demands on the Clerk and the Office of the Clerk. The fact that he has guided the Office of Clerk through enormous changes is a great tribute to him. He leaves behind an institution that is amongst the best, if not the best in the Commonwealth.

I know I speak for previous Speakers when I acknowledge Dave’s considerable skills and his respect for our democratic institutions. This was reinforced earlier this week by a message from my predecessor, the High Commissioner in London, Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, which reveals an even closer association between the two than many of us knew about.

Jonathan, acting Deputy Speaker at the time, signed Dave’s letter of appointment when he joined the Clerk’s Office in 1974. I quote Jonathan:

Dave has acted as ‘Parliament’s person’ all the time he served. He has a record of absolute integrity, attention to detail and he has been a loyal chief executive to many Speakers, Prime Ministers and Members of Parliament.

On behalf of your current and former Parliamentary colleagues, I thank you Dave and wish you all the best for a stimulating and rewarding new career as our third ombudsman.

All that remains now is for me to present you and Danièle with some reminders of your time here: first, the Clerk’s wig; second, a copy of the Hansard of the tributes from the House; and third, copies of Jonathan’s message and my tribute.

Finally, it is my great pleasure to announce that in recognition of a most distinguished career that Dave and Danièle have been granted Privileges of the House status.

I now call on the Leader of the House, Hon Dr Michael Cullen.

ENDS

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