Charles Chauvel

National's embarrassment over John Key's dismissive put-down of Keisha Castle-Hughes' climate change stance was obvious in Parliament today, says Labour's Climate Change spokepeson Charles Chauvel.

"National Deputy Leader Bill English answered questions on behalf of John Key over the issue in Parliament today. "His discomfit was evident and he offered what sounded like half an apology to the New Zealand actress for the Prime Minister's unnecessary and inappropriate comments in Brisbane this week," Charles Chauvel said.

"I asked how Mr Key could reconcile earlier statements encouraging Keisha Castle-Hughes to make a submission on climate change with this week's bully-boy missive at the climate change conference that she should "stick to acting". Mr English replied

"The Prime Minister wholeheartedly supports Ms Keisha Castle-Hughes' right to hold a view about New Zealand's climate change policy and her right to publicise that view."

"That was a start. Now it's time for John Key to extend a proper apology himself," Charles Chauvel said. "Young New Zealanders, whatever their profession, should never be discouraged from taking a stand on issues they feel passionately about and the Prime Minister's decision to criticise the Kiwi actress for doing so to an overseas audience was a bad call.

"It's not even as if he was asked for his view about her position on climate change. Rather he asked the audience if it had heard of her, made fun of her views and said "my advice to Keisha is this: stick to acting."

"Shame on you Prime Minister. You've set a bad example. It's time to do the right thing and apologise."