Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Peachey Allan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:659;Page:8509] 
9.  
ALLAN PEACHEY (National—Tamaki) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: What reports has she received that endorse the implementation of the national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I have seen two editorials today—the first is in the  
Dominion Post 
 and the second is in the  
New Zealand Herald 
—that back the Government’s implementation— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very direct question on the part of Allan Peachey. It asked “What reports has she received …”. A newspaper editorial is not a report to a Minister. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think that in recent times we have accepted that “reports” have become something of a device for all kinds of information. I think that it is not unreasonable for the Minister to outline what information she is aware of that supports the particular view put forward in the question. 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Those two editorials— 
Hon Maryan Street 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not wish to take exception to your ruling but the question—which did not come from this side of the House— asked what reports she has received not what reports she has seen which might be any other thing. It was quite specific about receiving reports. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not think there is need— 
Todd McClay 
: They’re ready to govern again! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Mr McClay is a new member and not used to sitting near the front; I can hear much better at the front. I ask that he be more careful. Obviously the Minister may well have received the report because the newspapers may well have been taken to her office so she has received them in her office. As Speaker I cannot determine by what means Ministers receive reports. I invite the Minister— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What a clown! 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: They do not like it! 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the Minister. There is no need for that. The Minister was asked a perfectly simply question “What reports has she received that endorse the implementation of the national standards?”. It does not deserve that kind of abuse being hurled across the House and I think the member should desist. We have had enough from both sides of the Chamber now. 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: Thank you Mr Speaker. Both of those glowing editorials recognise as does this Government that we have to support parents by providing them with good clear honest information about how their kids are doing at school and what they can do to help them do better. 
Allan Peachey 
: What reports has the Minister―[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the honourable member. When I cannot hear there is no way I can perform my role of Speaker. I could not hear Allan Peachey at all. I ask members to be a little more reasonable. This is perhaps the second-to-last sitting of the House this year and we do not need to finish in disarray. 
Allan Peachey 
: Thank you Mr Speaker. What reports has the Minister received from the education sector endorsing the use of national standards? 
Hon ANNE TOLLEY 
: I have reports of numerous supportive messages from teachers and principals that show that the unions are out of step with their members. One principal said: ‘Not all principals share the view of the NZPF and the NZEI. Some of us are quite capable of thinking for ourselves. My senior staff have begun to look at the standards and the self-review we are doing is very useful.”