Another National light weight: Nick Smith

Nick Smith's reported performance at a Select Committee hearing was bizarre and inappropriate. My understanding of these things is that ACC is an independent body, not any Minister's play thing. Smith is more than free to state his own position, but he demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the rules around independent state bodies when he presumes to turn up at a hearing and speak for - and over the top of - the responsible person from that body. Even if it is "legal" to interfere as he did, it was a very bad look.

In turning up at the meeting and talking over top of ACC's Jan White when she was being asked questions, he demonstrated he isn't a competent Minister. The issue the Committee was trying to investigate was whether or not Dr. Smith's claims ACC was insolvent were true. Smith couldn't let the facts speak for themselves, which is in itself revealing.

Smith has had trouble in the past controlling his hot-headed approach when under pressure. He crashed and burned in a few weeks after being made deputy leader of national a few years back. I think drinking too much "V" was the excuse back then.

The list National party second-raters in important jobs is growing: Tony Ryall in Heath, Judith Collins in Corrections, Murray McCully is converting foreign aid into cash for cronies, Lockwood Smith was moved to Speaker to keep hiim out of harm's way, Gerry Brownlee as Energy minister has show little regard for the facts where coal buring is concerned...and now Nick Smith.

Either John Key is a poor judge of his people or the National team is very light indeed where talent is concerned.