Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Mackey Moana: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:627;Page:22122] 
5.  
MOANA MACKEY (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What reports if any has he received on proposed changes to education expenditure? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I have seen a report suggesting that education expenditure should be ring-fenced at 2005-06 levels. That would effectively result in a cut of $1.38 billion from forecast expenditure—funding that is already budgeted for extra teachers teacher pay increases school operation grant increases early childhood education funding increases and the list goes on. That crazy proposal came from Don Brash. 
Moana Mackey 
: What impact would those funding cuts have on the tertiary education sector? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The university sector would lose the $40 million that has been budgeted to increase the Performance-based Research Fund and the entire tertiary sector would lose the $73 million that has been budgeted to increase tuition subsidies. Extra funding for industry training and Modern Apprentices would be cut. Is it any wonder that National cannot get its tax cuts right if it cannot even understand that? 
Hon Bill English 
: Why does the Minister think he has any credibility on education spending when he has overseen the worst blowouts on the lowest-quality learning and left a total shambles in the bureaucracy in the time that he has been Minister of Education; and why does he not apologise instead of exaggerating the numbers? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: I am proud to be the Minister— 
Simon Power 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. During the course of Mr English’s supplementary question a Minister sitting—I believe although I stand to be corrected—on the front bench interjected. Since you have been Speaker you have set a rule that members are able to ask their questions in silence and I ask you to rule accordingly. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes I have mentioned that to members before. I have on several occasions in this session let members from all sides of the House breach that. You are all now on final warning again. Would the Minister please answer the question. 
Hon Bill English 
: My colleague was telling me that because of the interjection he did not hear the question. I seek leave to ask it again. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Yes you may ask it again. 
Hon Bill English 
: Why does this Minister think he has any credibility at all on education spending when under his responsibility for the last 6 years he has overseen the biggest blowouts on the lowest-quality learning this country has ever seen and he has left the bureaucracy in a total shambles as confirmed by a report written by the Secretary to the Treasury the chief executive of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and his own State Services Commissioner; why does he not apologise? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: This Minister is proud of the results from the Programme for International Student Assessment which have our kids in the top group of the OECD. Our kids are in the top group in literacy numeracy science and problem-solving. Opposition members do not like our kids being successful and they do not like our teachers being good but none of their whingeing will take away from the facts.