9th May 2019, 17:39
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#4860
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A mariachi ogre snorkel
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Lightspeed
| Herald's take:
Quote:
Smith had been questioning Police Minister Stuart Nash in relation to the death of Matthew Dow, 23, who was killed at Appleby near Nelson on New Years Eve in 2017 by a driver high on meth and cannabis.
Smith asked Nash if he stood by his statement to TVNZ last December when he had said a discussion document on roadside drug testing had been approved by cabinet and would be made public early in 2019.
Karen Dow, the dead man's mother, interjected from the public gallery after Nash said he could not discuss what went on in cabinet.
She said she was that child's mother and she saw Mr Nash making that statement on national television.
Nash said he did not recall making that statement on television - public records show he did say it – but work was being done in that area.
Smith: "Will the minister apologise to the mother of Matthew Dow, who would have turned 25 today if not killed by a reckless drug-driver, given that he misled her in saying that Cabinet had approved a discussion document and that it was to be released earlier this year.
Nash said while he had sympathy for the Dow family and could not imagine their loss, he would not apologise for something he had absolutely no responsibility for.
Smith then sought leave of the House to give priority next members' day to a bill that would have introduced drug-testing for drivers.
But Mallard, in a highly unusual move, did not put the leave motion (in which the objection of any MP can block a move).
When asked why by Smith, Mallard said that he himself would not grant leave for it.
Smith accused Mallard of opposing moves to keep drug-drivers off the road. Mallard said he was very unhappy with Smith's approach.
Smith: "For standing up for my constituents?"
Mallard ordered him out of the House and when Smith yelled out "soft on drugs like the Government", Mallard ordered him to return and moved a motion naming Smith.
| what a cunt |
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