Clayton Cosgrove has a reputation of being a bit of a brawler in the House. But there are times when he over-steps the mark.
Yesterday was one such time; check out how he began his speech in the Second Reading debate for the West Coast Wind-Blown Timber (Conservation Lands) Bill:
Unsurprisingly, there has been no condemnation of Clayton Cosgrove from anyone within Labour. Nor have the Greens bothered to say anything, which IS a surprise; you'd think that someone from the Greens would have risen to Dr Smith's defence.
Of course Mr Cosgrove is no novice in the art of personal abuse. He was one of those Labour members who referred to Christopher Finlayson as "Tinkerbell". On that occasion, Green MP Kevin Hague did publicly condemn Cosgrove:
Parliament is a robust place, but there is no excuse for abusive comments such as the one Cosgrove made yesterday. Picking on someone because they have had mental health issues is a form of workplace bullying, and there is no place for it in the Parliament.
This is a personal issue for us. As regular readers are probably aware, we have had our own mental health issues over the years. Everything is good at the moment, but we know from experience that things can change very quickly.
Clayton Cosgrove is a senior Labour MP who, if Labour became the Government, would doubtless become a senior Minister. But he is also a serial offender in the abuse stakes, and we are disappointed (but not surprised) that none of his colleagues told him to pull his head in last evening. His abuse did him and his party little credit.
Yesterday was one such time; check out how he began his speech in the Second Reading debate for the West Coast Wind-Blown Timber (Conservation Lands) Bill:
Not content with calling Dr Nick Smith "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" once, Cosgrove made sure he hit his target by repeating the slur.
Younger readers may wonder what the fuss is about. This might help:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962) is a novel written by Ken Kesey. Set in an Oregon psychiatric hospital, the narrative serves as a study of the institutional processes and the human mind as well as a critique of behaviorism and a celebration of humanistic principles. Published in 1962, the novel was adapted into a Broadway play by Dale Wasserman in 1963. Bo Goldman adapted the novel for the 1975 film directed by Miloš Forman, which won five Academy Awards.
Time Magazine included the novel in its "100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005" list.[2]
It's no secret that in the past, Dr Smith has had mental health and stress issues. It's also no secret that in the past, he has been the target of personal attacks from a number of MP's who should know better. Claire Trevett from the Herald reported this in 2007:
Ongoing attacks about MP Nick Smith's mental health - including Winston Peters calling him a "loony tune" and to "take your pills before you come down to the House" - have been criticised by mental health advocates, but Dr Smith's opponents say he gets what he asks for.
The Mental Health Foundation says it is disappointed at the attacks over Dr Smith's mental health in Parliament this week - attacks which have been an ongoing theme since he went on stress leave in 2004 after being deposed as newly appointed deputy leader of the National Party following Don Brash's election as leader.
During the exchanges, Mr Peters described Dr Smith as looking "slightly zany and slightly nutty", and, the next day, saying: "Listen, loony tune, take control of yourself. Take your pills before you come down to the House, not halfway through question time."
The exchanges were initially prompted by Dr Smith telling Mr Peters to "stop living in the past, old man" and later asking if NZ First had paid back the money it overspent at the last election.
Such calls have been a repeated refrain since 2004 - but both parties reined in their members' comments after personal comments went overboard in 2005.
However, lately the comments and snipes from Labour MPs have increased again.
Hansard records reveal references since 2005 include Annette King referring to Dr Smith as "cracked", both Ms King and Trevor Mallard telling him to "take his pills", Phil Goff suggesting he take his "medication", Clayton Cosgrove referring to him as "troppo" and Michael Cullen making references such as "long before Dr Smith needed his pills", and "big, brave Dr Smith will take his pills".
Dr Smith did not rise to Mr Peters' bait in Parliament, but when the Herald approached him yesterday said the statements were "personally derogatory and untrue".
Unsurprisingly, there has been no condemnation of Clayton Cosgrove from anyone within Labour. Nor have the Greens bothered to say anything, which IS a surprise; you'd think that someone from the Greens would have risen to Dr Smith's defence.
Of course Mr Cosgrove is no novice in the art of personal abuse. He was one of those Labour members who referred to Christopher Finlayson as "Tinkerbell". On that occasion, Green MP Kevin Hague did publicly condemn Cosgrove:
Labour's Trevor Mallard says he shouldn't have called Attorney-General Chris Finlayson "Tinkerbell'' but denies there is problem with homophobia in the party.
ACT's Wellington central candidate Stephen Whittington yesterday accused openly gay Labour MPs Grant Robertson and Charles Chauvel of covering up prejudice among their caucus.
Hutt South MP Mr Mallard likened Mr Finlayson to the Peter Pan fairy during a parliamentary debate in October 2009. Waimakariri MP Clayton Cosgrove twice called Mr Finlayson Tinkerbell in the House in July 2009.
Mr Mallard said last night: ``I certainly don't think I'm homophobic. It's a comment that was probably unfortunate and if I'd thought carefully I wouldn't have made it.''
But he wouldn't apologise. ``It was part of a series of two way offensive comments and I got quite a lot more than I received.''
It was "ridiculous'' to suggest Mr Cosgrove was anti-gay, he said. Mr Cosgrove did not respond to a request for comment.
The allegations flew after a Rainbow meeting in Wellington on Wednesday night. Mr Whittington believes both Labour MPs were denying the Tinkerbell remarks were ever made.
"I felt that they had questioned my credibility in a public forum and denied there were aspects of their party who criticised and abused MPs for being homosexual,'' he said. "I didn't think that was acceptable.''
Both Mr Robertson and Mr Mallard believe Mr Whittington was trying to divert attention from homophobic comments made by ACT's Epsom candidate John Banks a number of years ago.
"He was asked a question about John Banks. In his response, he said there are homophobic Labour MPs,'' Mr Robertson said. ``I don't believe there are.''
He added: "Of course I don't think it's a good thing for Labour MPs to call Chris Finlayson Tinkerbell. It's silly statement...With all due respect, [to] Stephen, I suspect I know more about homophobia than he does.''
Green MP Kevin Hague, who was also at the meeting, backed Mr Whittington's version of events. "My sense was that Charles and Grant were denying that Mallard and Cosgrove had abused Chris Finlayson in a homophobic way.
"The impression I had was that they were denying that he said it.''
Parliament is a robust place, but there is no excuse for abusive comments such as the one Cosgrove made yesterday. Picking on someone because they have had mental health issues is a form of workplace bullying, and there is no place for it in the Parliament.
This is a personal issue for us. As regular readers are probably aware, we have had our own mental health issues over the years. Everything is good at the moment, but we know from experience that things can change very quickly.
Clayton Cosgrove is a senior Labour MP who, if Labour became the Government, would doubtless become a senior Minister. But he is also a serial offender in the abuse stakes, and we are disappointed (but not surprised) that none of his colleagues told him to pull his head in last evening. His abuse did him and his party little credit.
