Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Norman Russel: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7456. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his promise to New Zealanders that “I expect high standards from my Ministers … if they don’t meet the standards I set then obviously I will take action if necessary”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Has Bill English the Minister of Finance met the standards that he sets given that the number of unemployed New Zealanders has risen by 78000 under his watch? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Yes. As the Associate Minister of Finance has just pointed out we are dealing with a global financial crisis we have created 65000 jobs over the last 3 years and the New Zealand economy is more productive. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does he consider it acceptable that unemployment is rising in New Zealand while it is falling in our major trading partners and does that not point to a failed economic policy from him and his Ministers? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: In relation to the last part no and in relation to the first part in many of those countries the unemployment rate started at a lot higher level. On that basis if you go and have a look at what has happened in terms of the unemployment benefit this is a Government that has got 49000 people on an unemployment benefit—a lot lower. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I want to hear this question. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does it not come down to this: Bill English has failed to create the conditions that lead to job growth people are losing jobs here while the job market is improving in other countries and it is only record emigration to Australia that is preventing unemployment reaching even higher levels? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How did his education Minister meet his high standards when she unlawfully decided to close Salisbury School for disabled girls? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: What is true is that the courts have ruled that it is not appropriate to go forward on the basis of safety. It is also true that the Minister thoroughly considered that issue. The Minister never considered having a coeducational school. She considered having a school that was co-located and it is yet to be seen whether that transpires. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Before I call the member can I say to the Labour front-benchers that when another party is asking a question it has a right to hear the answer. Some courtesy is reasonable. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question asked how the Minister met his high standards and he gave us a recitation of the facts which is fine but what is of concern are the standards. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I am on my feet I say to the National back-benchers. The member will recollect that in his question he asked how the Minister met certain high standards and then made an assertion of fact in his question about a decision being unlawful. The Prime Minister dealt with that assertion of fact in answering which he is perfectly entitled to do. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does he think that it meets the standards of New Zealand parents let alone the Prime Minister that his education Minister decided to close Salisbury School and send girls with intellectual disabilities to a boys’ school where their risk of sexual abuse would be seven times higher and did she not think that the danger she was putting those girls into was her responsibility? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: A number of the assumptions the member has made are factually incorrect. What was proposed was co-locating—effectively single-sex schools on the same site. It is an idea that has a lot of merit. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Putting aside the unlawfulness of the Minister’s action does a Minister who blatantly disregards evidence about the safety of the most vulnerable girls and who abrogates her responsibility to consider their safety and who according to the High Court does not even think the safety of schoolkids is her business—does that Minister still meet high standards? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: In relation to the last part yes. In relation to the first part the member is making all sorts of assumptions that are not correct. The Minister actually thoroughly considered the issue of safety and that issue was thoroughly discussed. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: How can New Zealand parents have confidence in the safety of their kids at school when his education Minister takes actions that she knows will expose children to increased risk of sexual and physical violence according to the High Court judgment that found her actions illegal? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: The member is just totally and utterly wrong basically. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table the High Court judgment that shows that his Minister is totally wrong. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The document is a public document. Because of the controversy though I will seek the leave of the House. Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Does it not boil down to this: Hekia Parata is the person who is ultimately responsible for the safety of children at school and she has displayed a blatant disregard for the safety of her children and does not that make her unfit to be a Minister of Education? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No and no. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: Will he be writing to the parents of Salisbury School to explain to them why he continues to have confidence in a Minister of Education who according to the High Court unlawfully acted to put their children at greater risk of sexual and physical abuse? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: No it is not my intention to do so.