Nash Stuart: Education (National Standards) Amendment Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Nash Stuart: Education (National Standards) Amendment Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:651;Page:623] 
STUART NASH (Labour) 
: 
 I was not going to speak in this Chamber until I had given my maiden speech because that is the ancient tradition of this esteemed institution and I wanted to honour that. So to those who have gone before me I do apologise. But last night I sat in this House and listened with growing anger and frustration to the utter drivel spouting from the mouths of members on the Government benches and I felt I had to break my own rules on a topic that is so important it warrants it. 
I listened to Mr Peachey lecture us about educational achievement. That member was the headmaster of one New Zealand’s largest schools but it was also one of New Zealand’s wealthiest. His students knew about aspiration. They grew up with education— 
Allan Peachey 
: Don’t talk rubbish! Get it right! 
STUART NASH 
: —because their parents read them stories at night I say to Mr Peachey. They had full tummies when they went to school. They went there in clean clothes they understood education they had a healthy lunch and they had a great attitude. I say to Mr Peachy that his students’ greatest problem these days is where to park their cars when they get to school. [ 
Interruption 
] You may have been able to get away with bullying your students and your staff but you cannot do that here. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member cannot use the word “you” as he is bringing the Chair into the debate. Also members should please keep the tone down. Interjections are fine but members should keep the tone down. 
STUART NASH 
: Then Todd McClay lectured us about 9 years of a Labour Government when he was not even in the country then. Todd McClay said in his maiden speech: “ ‘I have two ears and one mouth. I will be able to listen’ ”. Then last night he said he had talked to thousands of people in Murupara. What did he do? Did he talk or listen? He did not listen. Of course the people in Murupara want better for their children; we all do. But Mr McClay and Mr Peachey completely missed the point. [ 
Interruption 
] The member wants to talk about educational achievement. Well I tell him that I am in the throes of completing a masters thesis on tertiary education economic transformation and education. So I know a little about that. 
The arrogance of not taking this bill to a select committee astounds and appals me. Democracy is the foundation stone of this country; “demos” means people and “-cracy” means rule. The select committee process allows democracy to be expressed. Democracy was the model first used in ancient Greece when Solon founded the first democratic State over 3000 years ago. How dare the Government dishonour that tradition when proposing social legislation? We may represent the people but it is our duty to give them the right to speak and be heard. Does Anne Tolley understand that? [ 
Interruption 
] The issue is not about her; it is about listening to the people who gave her the mandate to represent them. I say to Mr Quinn— 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I know the member is a new member but we are debating Part 1 of the Education (National Standards) Amendment Bill which deals with the issue of truancy. I have listened to the member very carefully and I have not heard any reference to the bill at all. We have had a great socialistic lecture about all sorts of things but I think Mr Chairman that you should require the member—particularly as this part has been debated for some time—to address Part 1. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The point is well made by the member. We are looking specifically at Part. I ask the member to confine his comments to that. But I bring to members’ attention Speakers’ ruling 57/3 which relates to interjections. It states: “(1) Interjections in debate are out of order unless they are rare and reasonable; (2) occasional interruption by way of interjection is in order if relevant;”. I just draw members’ attention to Speakers’ ruling 57/3. 
STUART NASH 
: Let us talk about truancy. Is that a decile 10 - school problem? Does Remuera Primary School have a truancy problem a truancy issue? No. Truancy is not an educational problem; it is a social-economic problem. Of course parents want what is best for their kids. They want them to be educated but instead of low-income parents reading stories to their children at night I tell Mr Peachey those parents are cleaning his office and they are delivering Mr McClay’s newspaper at 5 a.m. At 7.30 a.m. they are heading out to work in their day job I tell Mrs Tolley. National’s tax cuts for the top 32 percent of income earners have made matters worse. Truancy is an issue because desperate parents cannot find the time and money to put food on the table let alone books in homes. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: Excuses—more excuses. 
STUART NASH 
: Then that Government is going to fine them a month and a half’s salary. Does Mr Smith think that will help? No. I tell the Minister in the chair Anne Tolley to start addressing the issues see where the failures lie and understand the demographics of failure. It is not in Epsom or on the North Shore; it is in our poorest communities where people are struggling with everyday issues of life. What are you doing about it? Nothing! 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The member cannot use the word “you”. He should talk about the person by using his or her name or by using the term “the member”. That might be the easiest way to do it. As soon as you mention “you” it refers to the presiding officer at the time so I ask the member to please take that point on board. 
STUART NASH 
: I apologise—I apologise. The Minister should go and hold a select committee meeting in the Mangere community centre take Mr Sio with her and hold the meeting at a time when people can attend between shifts. 
I will tell members this: at least Labour endeavoured to address what we know was the problem through Working for Families and increasing the minimum wage significantly during its time—measures that the National Party voted against every time. National should address the cause of truancy and raise the minimum wage under urgency. That will help educational achievement not this legislation. I dare the National Government to address the issue of the minimum wage. Let us do that under urgency—address the minimum wage. Truancy is a social-economic problem not an educational problem. It is not an educational problem. The Government should go and hold a select committee meeting in the Mangere community centre.