Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Thank you very much Madam Chair. Kia orana. May I begin very quickly with a word of thanks. Last night in a separate part I asked Minister Hipkins some questions relating to fraud and the potential for fraud within the student loan scheme. At the time he indicated he was unaware of any. He did go away and ask some questions and I thank him for doing that. He has nevertheless now indicated that there is some so I encourage him to continue to investigate that very serious issue but I do want to acknowledge that.However I was concerned that a short time ago this morning he described the Opposition's Supplementary Order Papers as filibustering. I want to assure him that this is a very significant bill. The Opposition is not filibustering. We've had three excellent speeches so far since we started this debate which have demonstrated the range of important issues that are under consideration—Simeon Brown: Here's the fourth speech.Hon TIM MACINDOE: Thank you very much Mr Brown I appreciate that. Education matters. We all want the best schools in our communities and what we're talking about in this part of the debate relates very much to quality education. Could I just quickly acknowledge the outstanding schools in my own electorate up in Hamilton. I'm very proud of them and I thank each and every one of those who're working in our schools either in the teaching side or as board of trustee (BOT) or as parent teacher association members—that sort of thing. They all make a great contribution.The Hon Nikki Kaye kicked off this particular debate in talking about the new reporting framework which is obviously crucial to what we are now discussing and she raised a question: why has January been reached as the date? Now it isn't a frivolous question and I just want to add to the point that she made by pointing out that school staff particularly management teams have to work incredibly hard on a wide range of administrative matters and clearly this strategic reporting is an administrative requirement. Realistically the only time in the year that they can have a bit of a break is over the Christmas holidays leading into the early part of January when most New Zealanders are enjoying a bit of a summer break. Therefore while it may be as the Hon Nikki Kaye has pointed out logical to have a date in January I want to ask the Minister whether he has actually consulted widely with school authorities—boards of trustees management etc.—in order to ascertain whether that will work for them because it might be—I'm not saying it will be but it might be—that a reporting date say to coincide with the end of the financial year on 31 March would work better or would at least be preferred. So I just want to endorse the Hon Nikki Kaye's question and echo the great respect and appreciation she uttered for principals boards of trustees and teachers right around the country.But I'd also want to endorse very strongly the amendment that has been put forward by my colleague the member for Maungakiekie Denise Lee. Government members scoffed when she talked about an amendment which moves from the word may" to "must" and it appeared at least to Tamati Coffey to be of no consequence but I want to ask the Minister: what is the reason for the vagueness? In fact those two words are fundamentally different and I do believe that members of the community in my area who do have a strong interest in the way their schools are managed might want to support Denise Lee's amendment very strongly.Now let me give Tamati Coffey an example. He's now an electorate member. A large number of people in his constituency and in mine will not care about this. Let's acknowledge that at the outset. But there will be some—Tamati Coffey: Very serious. Very serious.Hon TIM MACINDOE: OK so Tamati Coffey who's clearly not being serious at the moment is nevertheless feigning interest. I do hope that Tamati Coffey will get up very soon to explain why he considers this is significant because he owes it to Denise Lee to debate this particular clause.I give the example to Tamati Coffey of those who may have stood for election in the last BOT elections but been unsuccessful. They may have had very genuine and strong reasons for seeking election and they will no doubt continue to be watching their schools with great interest. One of the things they'll be watching in particular will be the strategic planning because that may well have a fundamental impact on the way they feel about how the issues they were concerned about are being resolved and as to whether they should put themselves forward in the next BOT elections in order to try to continue arguing for whatever it was they wanted to change. So there could be very good reasons for them to do that and that is why I believe the word "must" must be inserted. Why have the vagueness of "may"? That simply says to a school that isn't functioning well "You don't need to consult your community." That is ridiculous and mustn't be accepted."