Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker—e Te Mana Whakawā. I think it was the final countdown. Weren't there some delicious ironies in that wonderful speech by Mark Patterson? We were sitting over here thinking Well here's Banjo Paterson giving us his best shot." but in fact what he really delivered was the fact that deep down he is really Pink Floyd and he was reminding us that in the New Zealand First Party the motto is "We don't need no education." Well Mr Patterson I have to say that was actually a noble effort to give us 10 minutes of meaningless twaddle of no substance whatsoever—Erica Stanford: Like the bill—just like the bill.Hon TIM MACINDOE: —but sadly—yes as Ms Stanford says like the bill—probably to be remembered as one of Mr Patterson's better contributions.I do just want to remind Mr Patterson—because he made some disparaging remarks about national standards and a former Minister in his speech—that at the time that national standards were introduced and legislated for in this House he was a very enthusiastic paid-up member of the National Party. I don't recall him speaking out about national standards at any time when they were in contemplation. In fact I believe he was probably still a paid-up member of the National Party when Mr Korako's fine bill was introduced—was it "lost luggage" or "left luggage"? What was the name of the bill? I don't recall him speaking out against that one either but he found it convenient at a later date to defect from the National Party and he has now turned up in the New Zealand First Party and is having to deliver 10-minute speeches of that type which completely waste the time of the House.I want to say that I do agree with the Prime Minister on one point and that is that there is a place for kindness in politics. So let me begin my analysis of this particular bill with a compliment to the member who is in charge of it Jan Tinetti. I can't make that compliment in relation to the bill itself because that would be very difficult to do but I do want to note that she chaired the Education and Workforce Committee meeting this morning in the absence of the permanent chair very fairly and competently. I thank you for that. And she did so with a smile on her face so that needs to be noted. But I regret that I cannot speak so charitably about this pointless bill that has already wasted considerable time in this House and which deserves to be thrown out without further thought and yet it seems inexplicably destined to pass into the law of this land on the passage of its third reading this afternoon.It is the ultimate stocking-filler. It's that present that disappoints its recipient and embarrasses its giver on Christmas morning. I have to admit I've been guilty of one or two of those over the years but it's only been members of my immediate family who have had to feign gratitude while feeling disdain at my gifting ineptitude. In this instance Ms Tinetti's useless gift is being inflicted upon an entire mystified and ungrateful nation. It's a considerable embarrassment to the member and her Government not least because her bill as my colleague the member for Maungakiekie noted so eloquently in her contribution a short time ago has been so dismembered throughout its passage through the House that it's reached a point that there's almost nothing left of it and that which is left should be thrown out as well. So there is really nothing left that even justifies having this debate this afternoon.But I say that as kindly as I can because I understand that Ms Tinetti inherited this nonsense from a former colleague and I'm sure she's having to put a brave face on her discomfort as she takes one for her team. Well no wonder the bill's original author cut and ran at the earliest opportunity. What a shame she didn't drop the bill in the shredder on her way out the door. So I won't add any more to Ms Tinetti's discomfort and I will finish again in the spirit of kindness in wishing her much greater luck in producing something of substance with a purpose and that will actually achieve something when she has an opportunity to produce a bill on an issue of her own choosing."