Former Act leader farewells Parliament

Richard Prebble had trouble keeping his composure as he spoke of a relative killed in World War II. Picture / Mark Mitchell

It was a speech almost free of ideology, one that stressed Parliament's role in checking the power of the Executive, and one that produced a tear or two.

Act MP and former party leader Richard Prebble farewelled Parliament and politics with his valedictory speech yesterday.

He was a Labour MP from 1975 to 1993 and was a key minister in the reforming fourth Labour Government of David Lange.

Mr Prebble, 57, stepped down last year as leader of the right-wing Act Party after being elected under its banner in 1996, following three years outside politics.

He used his speech not to call for more economic reform but to ask for a relative to come forward to claim an artillery shell he has had in his office engraved with the name of a distant relative killed in World War II.

He also used the speech to send his "thoughts and prayers" to Mr Lange, who is seriously ill in Middlemore Hospital.

Mr Prebble called for Parliament to sit longer so it could be a better check on the Executive.

He said being an MP carried a privilege that enabled members to hold ministers to account.

"Shamefully, too many MPs have abused that privilege but we must maintain the right to fearlessly debate and criticise."

Mr Prebble claimed his part in doing that, saying he had been told he had more pages in Hansard, Parliament's official record, than any other MP.

But he said that through no fault of their own, some MPs had spoken less than a total of 20 minutes this session, and he blamed the short length of sitting times.

He said Parliament needed to sit longer - not to pass more laws, but to be a real check on the Executive.

Mr Prebble found trouble composing himself as he outlined a story about a distant relative killed after fighting bravely in Crete.

A few years ago he was given an artillery shell case from an elderly man who fought with Sergeant Roy Prebble in Crete and Italy.

The man told Mr Prebble of Sergeant Prebble's bravery during the Battle of Crete and how his platoon wanted him to get the Victoria Cross.

They were told that was not possible as no officer had witnessed the action.

Sergeant Prebble was later killed outside Monte Cassino in Italy.

"From the Cassino War Cemetery I have found his name was actually Roy Francis Prebble, son of John and Ivy Prebble of Christchurch," Mr Prebble said, producing the shell case.

The case noted Sergeant Prebble died "defending our democracy".

Mr Prebble said it was fitting that the soldier be remembered in Hansard.

Richard Prebble

* Aged 57.

* Labour MP for Auckland Central November 29, 1975, to November 6, 1993. Lost to the Alliance. Then Act MP from 1996 to 2005.

* Key minister in the reforming fourth Labour Government. Prime architect of economic deregulation, corporatisation and asset sales.

* Dismissed from Cabinet in 1988, but returned in January 1990. Joined Act in 1994; became its leader until stepping down last year.