'Maestro' delivers wrong speech

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Wed, 10 Nov 2010 6:24p.m.

By Rebecca Wright

One of the National Government's ministers has been humiliated in Parliament by introducing a bill with a speech that was more than two years old.

Acting Revenue Minister Jonathan Coleman spent 10 minutes reading a speech which had been given by a minister in the last Labour Government. 

Watch the speech in full.

Sometimes a political speech is so good it seems better each time you hear it. This wasn't one of them - it was around six minutes into it last night that Dr Coleman seemed to realise that something wasn't right.

But he persevered, reading it like he meant every word - only none of them were his. They were written for Peter Dunne when he was a Labour Government minister two years ago.

In fact, this is the first time Dr Coleman had even laid eyes on the speech - but opposition MPs remembered it wasn't the first time they'd heard it.

"Someone gave that minister the wrong speech and he spoke for 10 minutes about a bill that was passed twelve months ago and he didn't notice," says Stuart Nash.

Mr Coleman says he did notice something was up - he just wasn't sure what it was, so he kept going.

Mr Dunne took the blame today - it was his office who gave Dr Coleman the wrong version.

"I take full responsibility for this embarrassing error and I've apologised to the minister for the situation and I apologise to the House."

Dr Coleman's nickname around Parliament is 'Maestro' - a cruel reference to earlier political failures. This latest faux pas means he's likely to wear it a lot longer.

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Comments

11 Nov 2010 06:26p.m.

allan wrote:

Just goes to show he is human.who really cares anyway?

11 Nov 2010 05:04p.m.

simon wrote:

Sure he was given the wrong speach, but as Acting Revenue Minister he should be aware of what is happenning in the department and the content of the Bills being presented! If he did, he would have realised quickly the content of the speach had nothing to do with the bill being proposed.

11 Nov 2010 03:52p.m.

Lightseed wrote:

robert it is more the arrogance of you. Coleman was reading a speech given to him by the minister that was meant to deliver it. The mistake was not his. people like you need to grow up.

11 Nov 2010 01:42p.m.

Doug wrote:

Simon Bridges on Facebook.
Jonathan Coleman was given and read the wrong speech in Parliament. So what. Phil Goff gives the wrong speech every week in Parliament and at his conference not long ago mistakenly gave a lecture on 1950s fortress economics.

11 Nov 2010 11:26a.m.

Pete wrote:

@Robert Can you actually say anything constructive instead of just slagging people off all the time because of their background? The man was given the wrong speech by another department for goodness sakes!

10 Nov 2010 08:54p.m.

V wrote:

Must be the Fluoride in his water!

10 Nov 2010 07:45p.m.

RobertM wrote:

And they say doctors have superior intellect. Iv'e always thought they were just jumped up technicians. Not intelligent people at all. Narrow specialists from a small IQ band. The arrogance of Coleman has always been staggering. A born to rule privately educated doctor who always knows best. Patients, nurses, hospitalised would never get any hearing from this guy. He's unspeakably conservative and belongs in Chicago or Jo-burg in l950.
Having a smoke and a drink was his only decent act. If he's an Anglican,a Selwyn or Christs boy he migh be somewhat forgivable. If he's a guilty sad do godder Knoxman like Beazley or Thompson-you just have to hope the money runs out to end the paternalism.