Yesterday when the Commerce Committee gutted Te Ururoa Flavell's Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill, I wondered what the Maori Party would do about it. The answer is the same thing they do every time National shits all over them and their constituents: nothing:
Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell has accepted a major rewriting of his Gambling Harm Reduction Bill in order to secure National Party support for it, prompting the Green Party and Labour to pull their support and call for him to withdraw the bill altogether.
Mr Flavell's bill was reported back to select committee yesterday with all of its main provisions either removed or weakened.
Mr Flavell said he had not yet seen the report but did not expect to withdraw the bill.
And then they wonder why people see them as sell-outs. This is why: putting the good relationship with National - and Pita Sharple's mortgage - before principles and their people.
