Muller ToddTODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): It is great to be able to put Tracey Martin's mind at rest and confirm that we are of course partly listening. I stand—David Seymour: Don't overpromise at the start of your speech mate.TODD MULLER: —well partly listening; not to everyone—to retort some of the comments that we have heard thus far this evening. What an extraordinarily negative bunch they are on the other side. Sometimes I wonder. They are parties that look for the shadows. I sense that they sit in the corner of a dark room and try to imagine all the negative permutations that could possibly occur—Stuart Smith: Sucking lemons.TODD MULLER: Sucking lemons—well said Stuart. There are all the possible permutations—they always cover them. They always start with the view that they are broadly supportive: We are broadly supportive of what we are seeking to do but now let's look at the list of permutations and possibilities that we could imagine might happen one day that could be negative." It is such a shame that they live life with such a dark lens over their perspective. But to the bill and Part 1. I will just spend a moment reflecting on the comments in respect of this concept "enable". It is "enabled" only—not "directed"; "enabled". It is a great word that.David Seymour: I thought "enable" was the same as "compulsion".TODD MULLER: Some clearly do. But the bill enables a principal to look after one school. We have heard over the last hour or so around how this could be a problem. Indeed I think it was Mr Hipkins who said that this is a challenge because schools have different cultures and different successes in terms of their learning environment. How terrible it would be if a principal could be appointed from one school—one would assume in this case a successful one—and then be able to apply their capacity across both schools to lift the performance of our children!Well that is what this bill is entirely focused on. This is about leadership. This is about principals who have demonstrated to their particular school that they are a leader. They are delivering a culture of performance to our children and that should be encouraged and embraced. If the opportunity that this bill enables is that that principal can then apply that leadership strength and capability across two schools then that is to the benefit of more children. It is not saying that it has to happen; it is saying that it enables it. Standing on the other side of the Chamber and saying "Oh well this is bad."—from my perspective I cannot see that you have children at the front of your mind when you make comments like that. Leadership is important and it should be encouraged and the opportunity provided for our principals to be able to apply their skills over more than one school.I would also like to make a comment in respect of the opening hours. Again we have heard a tirade of potential permutations and complexities that this could bring to communities. With respect to the Opposition let us start trusting our parents who sit on boards of trustees. This is an enabling piece of legislation. It is not directing them. It is handing it to our boards of trustees and saying that if this works for your community then you have the capacity to consult with your community and to evolve and make it happen. It is not a dictate; it is enabling. Again that word—"enabling"—seems to have missed the lexicon of understanding on the other side.It was quite extraordinary listening to Tracey Martin saying that there is a word when we talk about community that says "business". Oh my goodness—that means that business is part of the community. Yes because those businesses are filled with parents. So it is not a problem for businesses and the broader community and the role that they play to be part of a consultative process which is comprehensive. In fact as someone relatively new to education I was astounded at the layers of consultation that we have embedded in this.This is good legislation. It is enabling legislation. It trusts our parents and it puts our children at the centre of education excellence. It should be encouraged as opposed to being blocked at every turn by parties that always see the negative and love the shadows and enjoy the darkness. I support this bill."