We commend the attached Hansard transcript on Question 3 in yesterday's question time in Parliament.
Aside from being humorous and showing Winston Peters pulling Keith Locke's leg at every opportunity, have a read of the role being played by Michael Cullen. He is telling - not even suggesting - how the Speaker should rule on points of order, and at times the Speaker doesn't even reply to points of order as Cullen has already stepped in and ruled.
What is amazing, is that Peters got away without having to answer the original question.
3. KEITH LOCKE (Green) to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does he agree with the United States State Department’s latest report, released on Tuesday, that China is “authoritarian” and continues to “deny … citizens basic human rights and fundamental freedoms”?
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Minister of Foreign Affairs) : I want to thank the member for asking my third question in 3 years and to tell him that New Zealand is a sovereign nation that forms its own views and assessments of other countries and nations.
Keith Locke: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. That does not answer any question. That could be a response to any question asked in this House; it does not address the specific question on the Order Paper.
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: With the greatest respect, Madam Speaker, we do not have our minds made up by Pol Pot or the Russians invading Afghanistan, or anybody else. Since 1947 when we adopted the Statute of Westminster, we have progressively been confident enough to make up our own minds on all these international issues, and that is what covers this question he is asking.
Madam SPEAKER: That does address the question
