Greens' Chlöe Swarbrick has no plans to apologise for Gaza speech
During an urgent debate, Swarbrick said Government MPs could grow a spine and support her bill imposing sanctions on Israel.
Brownlee suspended her from Parliament and said he would do so again every day this week, unless she apologised.
This morning, a Green Party spokesperson confirmed Swarbrick was not planning on apologising.
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including the legal fight to get a New Zealand woman and her child out of US immigration detention, sliding house prices, and Taylor Swift's big reveal. (Source: 1News)
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Speaking to media yesterday after the Speaker's ruling, Swarbrick said the party would follow the correct processes and would ask Brownlee to reflect on previous language in Parliament. She described the ruling as "ridiculous" and the punishment excessive.
"As far as the robust debate goes in that place, I think that was pretty mild in the context of the war crimes that are currently unfolding."
She drew a comparison with comments made by former prime minister Sir John Key in 2015, when he challenged the opposition to "get some guts".
Swarbrick said she was tired and angry at the massacre of human beings.
Swarbrick speaking to reporters after being removed from the house this afternoon. (Source: 1News)
"What the hell is the point of everything that we do if the people in my place, in my job don't do their job?" she said.
"If we allow other human beings to be just mercilessly slaughtered, to be shot while waiting for food aid, what hope is there for humanity?"
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Swarbrick was not the only MP to run afoul of the Speaker during yesterday's debate.
Earlier, Labour MP Damien O'Connor was told to either exit the chamber or apologise after interjecting "bloody gutless" while Foreign Minister Winston Peters was speaking.
O'Connor stood and left.
Brownlee also demanded ACT MP Simon Court say sorry — which he did — after he accused Swarbrick of "hallucinating outrage".
'Deafening' silence on Gaza — Labour
On RNZ Morning Report's political panel, National minister Paul Goldsmith said the Government was taking time to discuss Palestinian statehood.
The Government is currently re-evaluating its position on the territory, while critics say it's taken too long already. (Source: 1News)
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Labour's deputy leader Carmel Sepuloni said there was no worse injustice than what was happening in Gaza and the silence from National was "deafening".
"You saw the frustration explode in the House yesterday. There are a lot of New Zealanders out there watching the scenes in the Middle East and wondering where the voice of our Government is on this, and why its taking so long to make simple decisions."
Goldsmith said the decisions weren't simple.
The Government had always been clear it was in favour of a two-state solution, and was working its way through what it wanted to do, he said.
The Green Party co-leader declined to apologise after calling on six Government MPs "with a spine" to vote on the Party's bill to sanction Israel. (Source: Supplied)
"Australia made a decision on Monday, we don't have to do our decision on Tuesday," he said.
Goldsmith said the Government was working on a clear position recognising a concern around Hamas and making sure that they were not involved in any future Palestinian state.
Australia will move to recognise Palestine at UN meeting in September, and Foreign Minister Winston Peters has said New Zealand would make a decision over the next month.
rnz.co.nz
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