Simon Bridges was asked to apologise twice in Parliament after testing the House Speaker's patience.
During Question Time on Tuesday, Labour MP David Parker, who was acting on behalf of Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash, was asked if feedback had been received from small business owners on any negative impacts of the capital gains tax (CGT).
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters then called a point of order, a parliamentary procedure when someone draws attention to rules violation. He argued that the Tax Working Group's report, released in February, had only recommended a CGT.
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"We all know that on the 21st of February the report was put out to the public of this country for consultation. There cannot have been any impacts and won't be until any decision is made on the tax," Mr Peters said.
"And that member should be stopped from wasting this House's time," he added, referring to Jacqui Dean, the National Party's Small Business spokesperson, who asked the question.
Before Mr Peters could continue, House Speaker Trevor Mallard stood and berated National leader Simon Bridges for interrupting while Mr Peters spoke. And while Mr Mallard was giving Mr Bridges a telling off, he interrupted the Speaker again.
Mr Mallard sighed, rolled his eyes, and said: "When I'm reprimanding the member, he will be silent, he will not interject, and he will not reflect on the ruling that I'm making."
The Speaker said Mr Bridges was "very lucky not to be tossed" and ordered him to "stand, withdraw and apologise, twice".
The National leader did as he was told, and even tweeted about it, saying: "I think I just made history."
Mr Bridges tried to justify his interruption, telling the Speaker the point made by Mr Peters was "both frivolous and likely to bring the House into disrepute and disorder".
"He was using it as a thinly veiled attack on the Opposition. It was clearly a debating point - he's been here a very long time," the National leader said.
Mr Mallard retorted, reminding Mr Bridges he had also been a member of Parliament for "about a decade" and that if he'd just waited until Mr Peters had finished, "it would have had a lot more credibility rather than from a seat by way of interjection".
Mr Bridges has a history of clashing with Mr Mallard in Parliament. In December, the Speaker called comments made by the National leader "smart-ass". He later apologised to Mr Bridges after National MP Gerry Brownlee said it was "inappropriate".
In another incident in December, Mr Bridges and Mr Brownlee were both asked to leave the House by Mr Mallard, prompting a National Party walk-out in protest.
Newshub.
