Nash Stuart: Student Loan Scheme (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Nash Stuart: Student Loan Scheme (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:656;Page:5864] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 I stand to speak in support of the first reading of the Student Loan Scheme (Exemptions and Miscellaneous Provisions) Amendment Bill. As Mr Foss mentioned the name is almost longer than the bill. This bill is by and large a technical bill but it enshrines a couple of important philosophies that we as the Labour Party value and that is one of the main reasons why I support this bill. 
It has always been Labour Party philosophy to help foster the economic development of our Pasifika brothers and sisters. The bill also builds on Labour’s fantastic law of giving interest-free student loans to all students. What wonderful legislation that was! It was Labour legislation of course. Education has to be the cornerstone of economic development. I have a poster on my wall that has a quote from Malcolm X. That quote is: “Without education you are not going anywhere in this world.” Those powerful words are from a man who discovered the power and value of education as a tool to instigate change in a world that demanded change and to make a difference in a world where difference is needed to drive independence sustainable economic growth and a higher standard of living. 
This bill makes some technical amendments but by and large it does three things. First it allows those from the nations of Niue the Cook Islands Tokelau and the Ross Dependency who have come to New Zealand to seek educational opportunities to return home in order to put their education and learning into practice. Secondly it provides an incentive to those currently resident in the aforementioned countries to come to New Zealand to be educated then return home to families friends and jobs while achieving the same advantages as citizens domiciled already in New Zealand. Thirdly it provides opportunities for New Zealand citizens who may wish to travel to Niue the Cook Islands Tokelau or the Ross Dependency in order to pursue professional opportunities for any number of reasons. This bill also allows interest-free loans for students engaged in full-time study overseas under a formal exchange programme approved by the New Zealand Government or a formal agreement between a New Zealand education provider and an overseas tertiary education provider. 
But I have one problem with this bill. I have a grave concern that the National Government will look to repeal the interest-free student loan provisions thereby necessitating my being back in this House within 2 years in order to repeal this amendment legislation. That is a real fear. We have discussed it and the National Government has actually signalled it. Why do I have this concern? Well the National Government has shown that its priorities are all wrong. In fact when it comes to education which is what this bill basically deals with Mr Key’s priorities are dreadful. He has effectively been robbing the poor to give to the rich. I ask members where all that education money has gone. Where has all that education money been stolen from? The Prime Minister Mr English every other National member—including Mr Hayes—the Maori Party and the ACT MPs have stolen $13 million from adult and community education by arrogantly closing night classes thereby taking away the ability of thousands of New Zealanders to better themselves through education in order to become productive members of their communities and society. 
The irony is that we are agreeing on the first reading of a bill—I do not know the fiscal implications of this bill but I am sure that the Minister of Revenue will explain it at some stage—that enhances educational opportunities for those wishing to go to or return to Niue the Cook Islands Tokelau or the Ross Dependency. This bill is aspirational. With regard to this bill the Minister of Revenue Mr Dunne has said: “This is another positive step that will allow people to further their studies overseas in a way that will benefit New Zealand in the longer term.” I totally agree with the Minister and that is why I am supporting this bill. But with all due respect I ask: what about those who live here and who want to stay in New Zealand and study in New Zealand? The National Government including that member over there John Hayes has stolen the educational opportunities of thousands of New Zealanders. This is simply not fair and it represents incorrect priorities. 
Where else has the money been stolen from? There is the $11 million that the Prime Minister Mr English and every other National Maori Party and ACT MP have stolen from those who are least able to afford to get into education through the training incentive allowance. Solo parents who make a proactive choice to engage in education whilst bringing up their children have suddenly had that opportunity taken away from them. Can members believe that? These people are depending on the State at the moment. They wish to engage in education and to contribute yet they have had that opportunity taken away from them. That is a true travesty. These guys would be paying tax for the rest of their lives if they became educated yet the Government has pulled the rug away. That is dreadful. Where are those members’ priorities? They have gone; they have disappeared. 
Then there is the healthy food in schools guideline. Mr Hayes would be interested in the healthy food in schools guideline. It may be a little late for him but people in his electorate would love the healthy food in schools guideline. But his Government has removed it. You have taken it away. You get my point Mr Assistant Speaker Roy but members opposite do not get the point. This Government has slashed cut burnt decimated and butchered educational opportunities for many New Zealanders from the cradle to the grave. Educational opportunity from the cradle to the grave is what generations of Labour Ministers of Finance Prime Ministers leaders and Mr Goff have delivered and that is what this Government is taking away. 
Where has the money been taken from? It is from the high school night classes adult and community education and the training incentive allowance. Where has it gone to? 
Carol Beaumont 
: Private education. 
STUART NASH 
: Dead right. I can report that $35 million has been stolen from the poor and given to the rich—$35 million. It is Robin Hood in reverse. Key is a modern-day New Zealand Sheriff of Nottingham or the “Sheriff of Nothing” stealing from the poor to give to the rich. Actually I tell members that we see in the pre-commentary on Bill English’s Tax Working Group report that it is suggesting raising GST to 15 percent so that the Government can drop the top tax rates of 38 percent and 33 percent down to 30 percent. This was said by the Treasury representative on the Tax Working Group. I tell the 75 percent of New Zealanders who earn under $48000 to watch out. 
I come back to education. Do members know that $35 million has been given to private schools? Do they know why? I will tell members. It is because Minister English believes that everyone is entitled to free education. That was the reason he gave in this House. I tell members that I completely agree with Minister English: everyone deserves a free education. The parents who send their kids to private schools have the option to send their children to State schools as well. They can send their children to the local State school. However they choose the option of sending their child to a private school. Many who are undertaking adult and community education or who are taking up the training incentive allowance do not have that same option. Now they have no options thanks to Mr English Mr Key and all those on that side of the House who voted for this Budget. For example Mr Tremain and Mr Foss from Hawke’s Bay voted for cuts in adult and community education. These cuts affect over 6000 people in Hawke’s Bay as well as 314 tutors. The irony is that Minister Tolley used to be an adult and community education tutor in Napier. That irony is not lost on the vast majority of people whom I have talked to in the Bay. 
The Labour Party has always believed that the first charge of a Government is to ensure that all New Zealanders have the opportunity to become productive citizens be this through health education or any area that allows New Zealanders to optimise their opportunities. That is what this party is about: cradle to grave. Savage Fraser and that other chap all spoke about this in years past and it is still the guiding philosophy of our current party and our fantastic leader the next Prime Minister Phil Goff. National has never had such a mandate or a belief system. That is why those members can slash and burn to such an extent without any conscience. That is why they can attend public meetings and pontificate about nothing whilst ignoring the voices in the crowd that are baying for their blood. In 9 long months the priorities of this National Government have proved that those members cannot be trusted. 
I support this bill but I certainly do not support the approach of this Government of robbing from the poor and giving to the rich. Thank you.