English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
English Bill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:629;Page:1494] 
5.  
Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) 
 to the  
Minister of Education 
: Does he agree with the statement of the previous Associate Minister of Education to the House on 12 May 2005: “I have not been guilty of or involved in any inappropriate behaviour in my 24 years as a secondary school teacher. As well I am not aware of any complaint of any kind.”; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) 
: 
 I accept Mr Benson-Pope’s statements around these events. That has been explained and rehearsed during question time today. 
Hon Bill English 
: Has the Minister—or has the Ministry of Education—investigated whether the principal of Bayfield High School appropriately handled complaints about Mr Benson-Pope’s behaviour on a school camp; in particular has the Minister investigated whether that principal referred the complaint to Mr Benson-Pope as the teacher who was the subject of the complaint? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: No. Those events have been the subject of a police investigation. Of course we expect all schools to have the appropriate policies in place and I understand that that is the case here. 
Hon Bill English 
: In light of the statement by Mr Bruce Leadbetter Principal of Bayfield High School that he did in fact refer the complaint to David Benson-Pope does the Minister now believe Mr Benson-Pope’s statement that he was not aware of any complaint of any kind about his behaviour? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I draw the attention of the House to the  
Otago Daily Times 
 report in which the principal is in fact reported as saying that he may not have shown the letter to Mr Benson-Pope. There were obviously differences of opinion around that issue. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does the Minister agree with the new policy introduced by Bayfield High School as a result of the complaint about David Benson-Pope that only female teachers should carry out duties of supervision of female students in camps dormitories and showers? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: As I said before I expect all schools to have appropriate policies to cover such issues as camps and that school appears to have one. 
Hon Bill English 
: Has the Minister considered whether Bruce Leadbetter a Labour Party activist in Dunedin may have colluded with David Benson-Pope to hide the complaint in order to protect Mr Benson-Pope’s chances of selection as Labour’s candidate in the red-ribbon seat of Dunedin South? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: No. I am advised by the laughter behind me—and people will be able to tell from that—that there is no suspicion that Mr Leadbetter has been colluding in this way although I imagine that he would be available to give lessons to Mr English who is obviously colluding at this moment to take over from Don Brash. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does the Minister realise how much damage these events are doing to Labour’s stewardship of public education when new allegations keep surfacing despite Mr Benson-Pope’s denials and when the Prime Minister appears willing to defend Mr Benson-Pope at all costs regardless of the public perception of the dangers he posed to young New Zealanders when he was a teacher? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: As Mr Winston Peters pointed out people in this House will want to know whether the circumstances here were rooted in fact. That is what people will want to base their opinions on. I accept the version of events that has been put to this House by Mr Benson-Pope. He is an honourable member and I accept his word. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: How much credence does the Minister give to the National Party’s position when an opportunity was sought today to provide an answer to this House and the National Party members denied leave for that to happen? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: No—the member has made his point. Would he like to rephrase the question? 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Minister received any reports that go to the question of credibility and integrity with regard to the National Party position when in fact an opportunity was sought in this House today for Mr Benson-Pope to give an explanation and the National Party members denied it? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I am sorry—there is no ministerial responsibility for that but the member has had the opportunity to put the point. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. If he has received a report then it becomes a question of ministerial responsibility and given that some members here want to conduct their daily affairs through laptops he could have received that report in the last minute. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. The member is actually correct—his question asked whether the Minister had received any reports. So would the Minister like to address the question as the Minister of Education not commenting on anything else in respect of the Opposition. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I can confirm that I have received no such reports confirming the lack of credibility of the National Party. However— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That is enough. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
:—I do believe that it is true.