King Colin: Education Amendment Bill — In Committee 
King Colin: Education Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:630;Page:2657] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 It is significant that the second part of this incredible Education Amendment Bill is such a small part. However other amendments have been covered by other members the Hon Bill English and Allan Peachey and that is relevant in the sense that from time to time it is necessary to tidy up aspects that are covered within the body of a bill. 
In speaking to Part 2 I would like to take the opportunity to say that as far as the definitions go some clarification is added to the meaning of the intent of the bill. But changing the word “management” to “employer” in schedule 1 is inconsequential. 
The whole range of amendments required by this bill is significant in that education does span an enormous range of subjects and it is appropriate to keep it all in order. It was said before that it was as though the National Party was catching the last bus from the rank and as a member—along with Allan Peachey Bill English and Jacqui Dean—of the Science and Education Committee I do feel a bit like that myself. This was our last opportunity along with the Maori Party to have an input into education going forward. 
I say to my chairman with great respect that only two members of the previous Education and Science Committee are actually still in Parliament. Over 60 percent of the present Education and Science Committee members who have actually spoken and put forward amendments—[ 
Interruption 
] The lady member had no voting power. 
Hon Brian Donnelly 
: Ashraf is out there with Bill English himself. 
COLIN KING 
: Ashraf is not here. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: We are talking about Part 2 and I ask the member to please not use members’ first names. The full name should be used. 
COLIN KING 
: I will steer away from that Mr Chairman. I must commend those members for their efforts on and input into this bill. 
We see this bill fading into the sunset. I just trust that when the opportunity comes again we will not lose our nerve and will grasp the nettle with regard to the education of our children. I hope we will do something far more constructive than we are doing with the amendment bill in front of us. 
Clause 50 deals with consequential amendments to other enactments. It was quite interesting to go through my PC in the dinner break to try to catch up on the history of those enactments. We see reference to the Revocation of Soldier Teachers Grading Adjustment Regulations and to the Revocation of the Combined Secondary and Technical Schools Regulations and on and on it goes. I suppose they all served their purpose. However they will now pass into history. 
From that point of view I have no doubt that when the Education and Science Committee next has the opportunity to look at this legislation we will wonder why so much time was spent on it. The bill came forward to the committee in November 2004 and has had a moderate gestation period. I do not see that it will be one of the things that stands out in my mind as having achieved an enormous amount other than far more bureaucracy far more regulation less innovation and more costs. By and by it will be the bureaucrats who will tell us how we want our children to be brought up not their parents. 
The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 25 in the name of the Hon Steve Maharey to Part 2 be agreed to.