National takes digs at Ginny Andersen’s radio gaffe - but Labour MP gets one back
Labour MP Ginny Andersen and National Party ministers engaged in a heated exchange in Parliament following Andersen's incorrect claim regarding road maintenance funding. The session highlighted ongoing political tensions as the election cycle approaches.
Why it matters
The incident illustrates the combative nature of parliamentary debate and the use of 'gaffes' as political leverage.
National’s Nicola Willis took repeated jabs at Ginny Andersen in the House on Wednesday after the Labour MP had to earlier backtrack on her incorrect claim that a land transport fund didn’t pay for road maintenance.
Wanting Willis to have another opportunity to take the mickey out of Andersen, National’s Hutt South MP Chris Bishop sought permission for the Labour MP, his electorate rival, to ask another question.
But it was Andersen who had the last laugh, using the opportunity to ask the National MP whether he had done any recent polling in Hutt South, a seat he is expected to lose.
It had the House – and Bishop – laughing, with Speaker Gerry Brownlee telling those watching on television the election campaign “has clearly started in here”.
Appearing on Newstalk ZB, Andersen on Wednesday morning falsely claimed road maintenance wasn’t funded by the National Land Transport Fund (NLTF).
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