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Youth parliament > Press gallery > Mike Munro by Greg Stack
Mike Munro by Greg Stack
Ex-Press gallery reporter and former press secretary to Helen Clark, Mike Munro, was a guest speaker to the ten members of the Youth Press Gallery, on Tuesday afternoon, a day before the Legislative Debate, which concluded the fifth Youth Parliament.
 By Greg Stack
Munroe, spent a lot of time talking to the ten students and junior
journalists about the superficial aspects of parliament, with emphasis
on the dramatic debates – played up for the parliamentary press
gallery. Munroe explained his dismay at the how contrived
parliamentary question times were, telling the Youth Press Gallery how
MPs meet to sort out debating details with interjections and even
supplementary questions planned, handed out and allocated long before
the MPs are seated in chambers.
“Every morning the Labour and National call a procedures meeting, where
they sit down and work out their questions. I think (question time)
should be a chance to grill the party, instead it’s controlled and
contrived. It’s all about theatre.”
Munroe added that many of the MPs were friends and after the press
gallery had left a debate or question time, often rival MPs can be seen
chatting casually – minutes after viciously attacking each other.
The subject of the next election came up and Munroe reasserted his
faith in the Prime Minister but conceited that although Labour has done
well since taking parliament, though, he believes it can only win if it
manages to form another coalition with a smaller party, something that
Munroe believes Labour has over National. He also added that poll
standings this far out from the election may not be reminiscent of the
final result.
“(John Key) is a smooth operator, he’s very likeable. But he
hasn’t been through the hurly burly of an election. He’ll be tested
this time next year.
On the subject of pre-election strategies Munroe believes that; “Labour
will have to elevate a few of the younger members of the list, though,
I’d imagine we’ll start seeing policies (revealed) around Christmas.”
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