Question time: Judith Collins, National

Name: Judith Collins

Party: National

Age: 43

Home: Clevedon, South Auckland

Family: Married with one son


How difficult has it been to adjust to life as an MP?


It hasn't been difficult at all. I'm used to the travel. It's just this is probably more frequent than I'm used to. The work of an MP is very interesting because it's not just one particular sphere: there's electorate work, work with local media, the work with shadow portfolios, the work in the House, debates, and the work in caucus like the law and order committee and health committee. Then of course there's the select committee work. It's very diverse. Having been a lawyer for 20 years is a huge advantage for me. I'm used to reading bills and interpreting them.

2. How long is your working day?

Any day is at least eight hours and sometimes during urgency up to 15 hours - and often includes weekend work as well.

3. What is the most frustrating thing about working at Parliament?

I guess it is not being in Government yet. It's having to be in Opposition and having to nip away at the Government.

4. What have been the highs?

A big high was during urgency when I got to find errors in Government legislation [the Construction Contracts Bill and the Trademarks Bill] and where the officials agreed with me and the Government agreed to legislation to fix the errors.

5. And the lows?

I haven't had one yet, but no doubt it will come at some time.

6. What MP outside your party impresses you, and why?

I like Georgina Beyer [Labour, Wairarapa] a lot. She is the chairman of the social services select committee which I'm on. She has a presence. She is very fair and she doesn't feel the need to jump in and help the minister when the minister is on the ropes. She's quite professional. There's the added fact that Georgina is the most feminine member of the Labour Party and that deserves a point. A good sense of humour too.

7. Do you support the bill to decriminalise prostitution?

The reason I don't is because it is already decriminalised. Prostitution is not against the law in this country. What is an offence is soliciting, living off the proceeds of prostitution - in order words pimps and brothels. So I don't know what all the hoo-haa is about. I've worked as a lawyer and dealt with prostitutes and I've got to say it is not a career people necessarily choose because they have high self-esteem. A lot of the people involved have been sexually abused as children. The last message they need when they are 16 or 18 is that this is a good way to make some money.

8. Do you have plans for a private member's bill you would like to see passed?

Absolutely, and I'm working on it right now. It is to do with the proceeds of crime specifically targeted at gangs. The present legislation requires the police to be able to prove that the proceeds actually came from crime. Under my bill, the onus will be on people to show it didn't come from crime, in other words to give the courts and the police the same power as the IRD. It's one of the problems we have got in dealing with the methamphetamine problem, particularly in the South Auckland area, which is my patch. I've spoken to the police; they've said this would actually help them and it seems like a good idea to me.

9. Do you have private health insurance? If so why?

No. I have this attitude that I come from a line of people with extreme longevity and that I will pay for my own medical assistance as I need it. When I have had it, I've found I've ended up paying significantly more than I've ever had back because I hardly ever go to the doctor.

10. Name one of your heroes (present party leaders not allowed).

I really admire the qualities that the German general Field Marshal Rommel displayed in leadership and his personal ethics. That's from being the daughter of a World War II veteran who, like most New Zealanders who fought in the desert, hugely admired Rommel. He was incredibly professional. He never asked of people what he wouldn't do himself. His officers had the same rations as the men. There was none of this hierarchy or special treatment. He made a point of visiting the captured Allied soldiers and making sure they had decent treatment. And when he finally got his head around what Hitler was all about, he actually made a stand against him and lost his life because of it. So I thought he was a pretty good guy. He was just on the wrong side.

11. What book are you reading?

I've got four at the moment. I'm reading Rudi Giuliani's book on leadership; I'm reading Margaret Atwood's The Blind Assassin; John Stuart Mill's Utilitarianism and the other one is What Smart People Do When Dumb Things Happen at Work by Charles Watson, PhD.

12. How are you unwinding over summer?

Repainting the inside of our house, lying around the pool, obviously with sunblock on, deciding what to do about the 10 sheep we've got who aren't eating enough grass, taking my son to the beach, wandering around our bit of native bush and maybe giving my son the job of naming the plants and trees, and basically spending time with my husband.