16 Listen to what Tim Barnett, the Labour MP for Christchurch Central said about this in an article in 2005:¹³ However,  since  both  these  issues  [preservation  of  heritage  buildings  and  dealing with  the  chaotic  power  market]  are  fundamentally  part  of  ministerial  portfolios, once  Labour  became  the  Government  in  1999  my  ability  as  a  backbencher  to influence  such  matters  was  limited.  Certainly,  backbench  pressure  can  have  an effect  on  a  variety  of  issues,  but  in  my  experience  as  both  an  observer  and  a member of governments, such pressure, to be effective, depends on a widespread popular  perception  that  there  is  a  problem  which  the  Government  has  a  duty  to solve,  whether  such  a  perception  is  already  present  or  fostered  as  part  of  the lobbying campaign. In its absence, backbenchers can find themselves whistling in the wind, often for the best of political reasons – whether because of the existing party programme, other pressures on Ministers, or the poor presentational quality of which backbenchers can sometimes be guilty. From  1999  onwards,  by  which  time  Labour  had  achieved  power  and  I  felt more appreciative of and less overawed by the institution, I faced a riddle which many MPs  never  succeed  in  solving.  How  was  I  to  make  my  job  challenging  and memorable,   and   leave   my   mark   as   a   politician,   while   not   deliberately   or unwittingly undermining the Government of which, as a backbencher, I was part?   I wanted to pursue issues relevant to my electorate.  I wanted issues related to my background  and  my  interests.  And  I  wanted  issues  requiring  legislation;  in  the Parliamentary forum,  a  backbencher  can  sidestep  all  or  most  of the political and confidentiality   constraints   involved   in   working   on   policy   matters   which   will ultimately  be  resolved  by  bodies,  such  as  Cabinet  and  its  Committees,  to  which they are denied access. Between  1996  and  the  time  of  writing  (early  2005)  I  identified  and  helped  deal with  two  such  issues.  One  was  reform  of  New  Zealand’s  long-outdated  and discredited  prostitution  laws.  The  other  was  designing  and  implementing  a  New Zealand response to the issue being tackled worldwide of appropriate relationship law for same-sex couples. 17 Chairing a Select Committee can be a most satisfying parliamentary assignment.   So  can  steering  through  Members  Bills  that  increasingly  have  a  tendency  to become  law  in  our  MMP  Parliament.  Mr  Barnett’s  article  demonstrates  that Parliament is more than a forum in which to strive for political advantage.  It is about  the  public  interest.  Despite  the  competitive  quest  for  power  that  the Westminster system encourages, it needs to be remembered that the public interest comes first. Parliament is an instrument for public accountability, not for a vehicle for the accretion of personal power. Power is, of course, notoriously dangerous.                                                   13   Tim  Barnett  “Comment:  Moral  Leadership  from  the  Back  Benches”  (2004)  56  Political Science 19, 20. 8 C:\Documents And Settings\Tmcglennon\Desktop\CPA Australian And Pacific Conf. 15 August.Doc 16/08/2006 10:43