Hipkins ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): I want to begin today by acknowledging the Rt Hon Bill English and his decision to stand down from Parliament after close to 28 years of service to this House and to the people of New Zealand. He deserves to be acknowledged. I haven't always agreed with Bill English—in fact I have probably disagreed with him more than I have agreed with him—but I think he does deserve to be recognised for the service he has given to the people of New Zealand and for the determination that he has shown over that period of time through a number of ups and downs that he's experienced in this House.It feels pretty good to be on this side of the House at the moment as part of a strong cohesive united Government that is delivering for New Zealand. We passed the Families Package which provided a boost in incomes for 385000 New Zealand families. We extended paid parental leave to 26 weeks. We are increasing the minimum wage. We are improving the conditions of people in workplaces by strengthening employment laws. We are banning overseas speculators from buying New Zealand's houses. We have stopped the sell-off of State houses. We have made sure that rental homes are going to be warm and dry and healthy. We have started KiwiBuild so that we can get more houses built and added to the property market. We've resumed contributions to the New Zealand Superannuation Fund so that we can provide security for New Zealanders in their retirement. We are on track to meet our surplus target and start paying back the record levels of debt that we inherited from the previous National Government. I would note that almost every one of those things has been opposed by the National Opposition. They have been opposed by the National Opposition who of course are now somewhat distracted—somewhat distracted because the race is under way as to who is going to be the leader of the National Party.I do believe one of the things that was stated today by one of those contenders Simon Bridges when he said I'm focused on Simon Bridges". Everybody in the House will believe that Simon Bridges is focused on Simon Bridges. He clearly appears to be appealing to the young fogey contingent within the National Party; that's his key demographic. A barbecue at Simon's place has already had the desired effect—the vacancy has been created and he's off.It's the same with Judith Collins. Now it will be interesting to see how Judith Collins fares. It's a little bit like giving the wicketkeeper a bowl when you're playing cricket. It means you've given up on winning the game. That would be what would happen if Judith Collins was to become the leader of the National Party. It would be like an admission of defeat and they just needed somebody to fill in the shoes.There is of course Amy Adams. She is the ultimate compromise candidate—the worst of everything. She is the worst of everything—no values no profile and absolutely nothing that would be attractive to the voters. By the time Amy Adams is done preparing for her race the race will be over but she's certainly in the running.Then of course we've got Jonathan Coleman. I have been told on good authority that Jonathan Coleman has secured his first vote to be the leader of the National Party. It is his own but he has at least determined that he is going to be voting for himself.Then of course we've got Steven Joyce. He's mulling it over. He's just trying to figure out whether he's got a ladder tall enough to get himself out of his $11 billion hole so that he can make a run for the top job of the National Party.But then there is the mystery candidate out the back there: Mark Mitchell who's throwing his name into the ring. Mark Mitchell used to be dog handler. That could come in handy if he does succeed in becoming the next leader of the New Zealand National Party. I feel like I've watched this movie before as the National Party tears itself limb from limb as they decide who the next leader of their party is going to be. And it is nice to be part of a strong cohesive and unified Government that's focused on delivering for New Zealanders. We have seen real results in the first three or four months that we have been in Government and we are barely getting warmed up. However I do want to say to Bill English that I was disappointed with his general debate speech today. As much as I acknowledge his record of service in this House I thought it was disappointing that he used his final general debate speech to belittle the accomplishments of young people who were recognised in the Prime Minister's youth awards. I think that the House can expect better from Mr English. I'm sure we will get that when he delivers his valedictory speech which will be more befitting him and better recognise the years of service he has given to this House."