PM has words with Davis
The prime minister has had words with her deputy over him calling a National MP ‘‘hysterical’’ and has told Kelvin Davis he shouldn’t have said it.
In a statement from Jacinda Ardern’s office, a spokeswoman said: ‘‘Minister Davis has apologised to Jacqui Dean and to the Prime Minister herself. The Prime Minister says he should not have made that comment and he understands that.’’
National MP Jacqui Dean has accepted Davis’ apology for calling her ‘‘hysterical’’ but says the comment was clearly ‘‘sexist’’.
Davis, who is tourism minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party, left a voicemail message on Dean’s phone yesterday, which she said seemed like a ‘‘genuine apology’’. The situation arose after Davis fronted a select committee on Thursday to answer MPs’ questions about his portfolio in the wake of the Budget. During one of many fiery exchanges, Davis called Dean ‘‘hysterical’’ for asking whether tourism jobs would be impacted as a result of increasing costs for small businesses. When she responded that the comment was ‘‘offensive’’ Davis said: ‘‘you’ll be right’’.
Hysteria originates from the Greek word for uterus and was an illness traditionally associated with the mental condition of a woman.
Yesterday Davis issued a statement apologising for the remark and for ‘‘any offence caused’’.
‘‘I’ve tried to contact Jacqui Dean today to apologise to her directly,’’ he said. ‘‘Estimates hearings are about holding ministers to account for spending decisions. While I was prepared for a robust line of questioning, I became frustrated with the particular approach being taken – but that was no excuse for making an offensive remark.
‘‘We are doing great things in the tourism portfolio, we’ve got innovative solutions to issues and challenges in the sector. That should have been the focus.
‘‘I’m the minister, I should have remained calm and on this occasion I let myself down, so once again I apologise for my poor choice of words,’’ he said.
Dean said she accepted the apology and was sure he ‘‘regretted saying it’’. However, she said her line of questioning at the time wasn’t ‘‘untoward’’, which is why she was ‘‘taken aback’’ by his comment.
Asked if it was sexist, she said ‘‘of course it was’’.
National Party leader Simon Bridges said the comment was ‘‘uncalled for’’ and it looked like Davis was ‘‘out of his depth’’ but his apology seemed ‘‘genuine’’.
National MPs on the economic development committee are demanding Davis be recalled after what Todd McClay described as the ‘‘worst performance of any minister in any select committee ever’’.
‘‘I think he was vacant, not just complacent,’’ McClay said after the hearing. ‘‘I think the tourism sector, the public who maybe interested in how all of this money that was promised before the election might be spent, were left without the answers.’’
Davis got increasingly frustrated throughout the hour-long meeting and not only had heated exchanges with Dean and McClay but also the committee chair, Jonathan Young.
At one point Young, who was becoming visibly frustrated by some of the responses, raised his voice asking ‘‘when do we get to see?’’ after weeks of being told to wait and see what the Budget delivered
Davis shot back: ‘‘I’m sorry, don’t talk to me like that’’.
He repeatedly told the committee they would have to ‘‘wait and see’’ and accused the Opposition of ‘‘looking at puddles’’ while he was ‘‘looking at lakes’’.
It would be a rare step for a select committee to recall a minister and it’s unlikely to get across the line as a majority is required. The Opposition and Government have five MPs each on the committee.