Labour MP David Parker delivers his valedictory speech. Photo: VNP/Louis Collins
More than two decades after being elected to Parliament, one of Labour's veteran journeymen - David Parker - called time on his political career this week.
On Wednesday evening, he gave his valedictory statement to the House, while a packed public gallery peppered with his former contemporaries watched on from above.
The valedictory statement gives departing MPs the chance to farewell Parliament and reflect on their career.
The standard duration is 15 minutes, but if an MP has a significant tenure, the Speaker will usually allow more time. Departing members have little to lose in a political sense, so speeches can make for exciting watching - valedictorians don't always hold their tongues.
Parker landed in Parliament in 2002, after the successful "park Parker in Parliament" campaign saw the former Dunedin lawyer and businessman narrowly flip the Otago seat to Labour for the first time ever.
As MPs often do in valedictories, Parker included a chronology of his career, which - in its first few years - saw him rise quickly through Labour caucus ranks during the Clark administration.
"My first break in Parliament came from 'corngate' or the Seeds of Distrust," Parker told the House. "The select committee inquiry unanimously found no evidence of interference or cover-up by any minister, including the Prime Minister - she quite liked that!"
Following the 2005 election, Parker was propelled into cabinet as Attorney-General, Minister of Transport, Minister of Energy and - perhaps most notably - Minister Responsible for Climate Change Issues. In 2007, he added Minister for the Environment to the list.
Parker led development of the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation, one of Labour's flagship environmental policies, for which he was named Listener magazine's 2008 Environmentalist of the Year.
In his speech, Parker listed "good environmental outcomes" as one of the key objectives within his political philosophy, along with an egalitarian economy and the protection of civil liberties.
In the Ardern administration, Parker was flippantly referred to by media as the "Minister for just about everything", after he was given the Environment portfolio, along with Attorney-General, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Trade and Export Growth, and Associate Minister of Finance.
'One last thing before I go'
As is often the case in valedictory statements, Parker had one last nudge at convincing the House of one of his pet policies - tax reform.
"The revenue-neutral tax, which I proposed, is sometimes described as a wealth tax, but it's better seen as a tax on income from capital. Think of it as an average rate of return of 4 percent taxed at a third.
"In fact, it's less, because the family home and contents, plus an additional $5 million of investments each-$10 million for a couple-were excluded."
The departing MP went into further detail, pitching his ideal tax system to the House and outlining exactly how it would all work.
"It's always been difficult to convince the other side on tax," he said. "At times, I've found it surprisingly hard on my own side too."
Parker has a personality and manner of speaking that has seen him called meticulous and intelligent, but also sometimes boring or nerdy. To his credit, the Labour veteran is admirably self-aware, something not all politicians find easy.
In his speech, he acknowledged that his interest in the specialised details had sometimes seen him called a 'wonk', but said there were worse traits to have as an MP.
Parker told the House that his colleague, MP Arena Williams, recently said he was different to other MPs, because he didn't require affirmation and was therefore happy to disagree.
"It can be a weakness too, yet officials thrived on it. That's who I am - a conviction politician, clear in my values, my ideology.
"No-communist, part-capitalist, part-socialist, class-not-race and I'm 100 percent sure Labour's my place.
"I've fought many battles, I've stood on principle, I've won, and I've lost, but I leave here knowing that on environment, civil liberties, and most precious of all, a prosperous, egalitarian society, I've tried to move the dial."
When Parker leaves Parliament on 12 May, Labour will lose the wisdom and experience of one of its loyal veterans, but its legal expertise will be bolstered again, when he is replaced by human rights lawyer Vanushi Walters, who is next on Labour's list. Walters is no stranger to Parliament, after serving as MP for the Upper Harbour electorate in the 53rd Parliament (2020-23).
You can listen to the audio version of this story, along with other coverage of Parliament this week by clicking the link near the top of the page. The full Hansard transcript of David Parker's valedictory statement is also available here.
*RNZ's The House, with insights into Parliament, legislation and issues, is made with funding from Parliament's Office of the Clerk.
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