6. International Education—Funding New Zealand's Reputation and Student NumbersSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and EmploymentInternational Education—Funding New Zealand's Reputation and Student Numbers6. SARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: How does Budget 2017 investment in international education support economic growth?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Budget 2017 invests $6.8 million in funding over 4 years to support sustainable growth in the international education sector to strengthen the net benefit to New Zealand and its value to our regions. This investment supports programmes that have proven effective in meeting growth in demand across the international sector including increasing the share of international students studying in regions throughout New Zealand building the New Zealand international education brand as an international education destination supporting positive experiences for international students and it is our fourth-largest export industry worth more than $4.5 billion to our economy. This Government remains focused on supporting the international education sector which can provide a net benefit for New Zealand.Sarah Dowie: In what other ways is the Government supporting international students coming to our shores?Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: The National-led Government backs the international education export industry and the thousands of Kiwis employed in it. Our approach is to work with the industry to steadily improve outcomes rather than threatening large parts of it. In an effort to increase the support offered to international students I was pleased to launch the International Student Wellbeing Strategy in Christchurch last week. The strategy is designed to protect and enhance New Zealand's reputation as a safe and welcoming study destination ensuring international students enjoy a quality education and are valued for their contribution to New Zealand. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am just having trouble hearing the answers because of the excitement to my left.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Does he have any concerns about a reported educational programme that featured lecturers Mr Little Ms Ardern and Mr—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Mr Brownlee will resume his seat. That question is completely out of order. I refer the member to Speaker's ruling 173/5—questions can be asked of the Government's intentions but the Government has no responsibility for the Opposition.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am not challenging your ruling. I think it was absolutely correct. But what I am pointing out is that the question asked whether he was concerned about a tertiary—Mr SPEAKER: The member will resume—[Interruption] Order! Mr Brownlee if you want the same treatment that a former front-bench and very senior member got you will be leaving the Chamber. When I ask you to resume your seat you resume your seat.Marama Fox: Is he concerned about New Zealand's international education reputation when recent reports identified the potential exploitation of 85 overseas university students lured to participate in a fellowship programme offered by the Labour Party and what is he doing to investigate the claims—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Again that question is completely out of order. If the member had been listening to me giving Speaker's ruling 173/5 to the House she would have known that before she started her question. So she has wasted one of her opportunities today.Sarah Dowie: What reports has he seen on recent proposals—[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am going to ask the member to start again. Simply with the yelling and the excitement on my immediate left I cannot hear the question and then I will not be able to hear the answer and then I will be subject to questions about whether the answer has been correct. So I do need some assistance.Sarah Dowie: What reports has he seen on recent proposals to cut international student numbers?Mr SPEAKER: In so far as there is ministerial responsibility the Hon Paul Goldsmith.Hon PAUL GOLDSMITH: I have taken a careful look at a recent policy announcement that targets international students and our international education sector. The basic premise is that the Government should stop issuing student visas for courses below a Bachelor's degree that are not independently assessed by the Tertiary Education Commission and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to be of high quality. Last year just about 72000 international student visas for tertiary institutions were granted in New Zealand. Based on the figures in that report which target a reduction of 15000 to 22000 international students that could put about 25 percent of the sector at risk which translates to as much as $1 billion a year and thousands of jobs. I have seen that policy and it is from the Labour Party.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just want silence for this point of order—the Rt Hon Winston Peters.Rt Hon Winston Peters: You ruled earlier that the Minister or Ministers are not responsible for another party's policy. He spent his whole answer doing just that and you thought it was fine.Mr SPEAKER: No. No that is not true. [Interruption] Sorry? That is not true. The Minister was asked whether he had seen any reports. He then went through quite detailed reports. At that stage I was unaware of what reports he was referring to. Only at the very end did he attempt to align those reports with the policy of another party and I immediately shut him down.