Thursday, July 02, 2009



Medicinal cannabis: the vote

Last night, Metiria Turei's Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Bill was voted down, 84 - 34. So, who did it? Who are the guilty, without compassion, who would rather see people suffer than let them legally use a drug which helps them? Thanks to the Long-nosed Potaroo, I've got a little list:

Noes:

  • The entire National Party, who bloc-voted against it
  • Jim Anderton (Progressive Coalition, Wigram)
  • Rick Barker (Labour, List)
  • Ashraf Choudhary (Labour, List)
  • Clayton Cosgrove (Labour, Waimakariri)
  • Clare Curran (Labour, Dunedin South)
  • Lianne Dalziel (Labour, Christchurch East)
  • Kelvin Davis (Labour, List)
  • Peter Dunne (United Future, Ohariu)
  • Te-Ururoa Flavell (Maori Party, Waiariki)
  • Phil Goff (Labour, Mt Roskill)
  • George Hawkins (Labour, Manurewa)
  • Parekura Horomia (Labour, Ikaroa-Rawhiti)
  • Darren Hughes (Labour, Otaki)
  • Raymond Huo (Labour, List)
  • Rahui Katene (Maori Party, Te Tai Tonga)
  • Luamanuvao Winnie Laban (Labour, Mana)
  • Nanaia Mahuta (Labour, Hauraki-Waikato)
  • Trevor Mallard (Labour, Hutt South)
  • Stuart Nash (Labour, List)
  • Damien O'Connor (Labour, List)
  • David Parker (Labour, List)
  • Mita Ririnui (Labour, List)
  • Ross Robertson (Labour, Manukau East)
  • Pita Sharples (Maori Party, Tamaki Makaurau)
  • Su'a William Sio (Labour, Mangere)
  • Tariana Turia (Maori Party, Te Tai Hauauru)

Ayes:

  • Jacinda Ardern (Labour, List)
  • Carol Beaumont (Labour, List)
  • John Boscawen (ACT, List)
  • Sue Bradford (Greens, List)
  • Brendon Burns (Labour, Christchurch Central)
  • Steve Chadwick (Labour, List)
  • Charles Chauvel (Labour, List)
  • David Cunliffe (Labour, New Lynn)
  • Catherine Delahunty (Greens, List)
  • Ruth Dyson (Labour, Port Hills)
  • Darien Fenton (Labour, List)
  • Jeanette Fitzsimons (Greens, List)
  • David Garrett (ACT, List)
  • Kenedy Graham (Greens, List)
  • Kevin Hague (Greens, List)
  • Hone Harawira (Maori Party, Te Tai Tokerau)
  • Rodney Hide (ACT, Epsom)
  • Chris Hipkins (Labour, Rimutaka)
  • Pete Hodgson (Labour, Dunedin North)
  • Sue Kedgley (Greens, List)
  • Annette King (Labour, Rongotai)
  • Iain Lees-Galloway (Labour, Palmerston North)
  • Keith Locke (Greens, List)
  • Sue Moroney (Labour, List)
  • Moana Mackey (Labour, List)
  • Russel Norman (Greens, List)
  • Lynne Pillay (Labour, List)
  • Rajen Prasad (Labour, List)
  • Grant Robertson (Labour, List)
  • Heather Roy (ACT, List)
  • Carmel Sepuloni (Labour, List)
  • Maryann Street (Labour, List)
  • Metiria Turei (Greens, List)
  • Phil Twyford (Labour, List)

Grant Robertson is listed as voting both ways, and I am seeking clarification as to his actual vote (update: he voted in favour). Roger Douglas was overseas. Chris Carter and Shane Jones apparently did not vote.

There's a very obvious division there in the Labour Party, with most of the Labour MPs voting against being electorate MPs, and most of those voting for being list MPs. This could reflect the differing pressures on list and electorate MPs, or it could reflect age, as the list MPs are generally younger. It does bode well for the future of Labour, though - the "class of 08" are considered to be the futue of the party, and the vast majority of them voted to send the bill to committee.

And ACT, for once, lived up to its "liberal" branding, with David Garrett showing himself more liberal on this issue than John Key or Phil Goff. That has to hurt...