5. Hon BILL ENGLISH (National—Clutha-Southland) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
Does he agree with the statement of the previous Associate Minister of Education to the House on 12 May 2005: “I have not been guilty of, or involved in, any inappropriate behaviour in my 24 years as a secondary school teacher. As well, I am not aware of any complaint of any kind.”; if not, why not?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Education) Link to this
I accept Mr Benson-Pope’s statements around these events. That has been explained and rehearsed during question time today.
Has the Minister—or has the Ministry of Education—investigated whether the principal of Bayfield High School appropriately handled complaints about Mr Benson-Pope’s behaviour on a school camp; in particular, has the Minister investigated whether that principal referred the complaint to Mr Benson-Pope as the teacher who was the subject of the complaint?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
No. Those events have been the subject of a police investigation. Of course we expect all schools to have the appropriate policies in place, and I understand that that is the case here.
In light of the statement by Mr Bruce Leadbetter, Principal of Bayfield High School, that he did, in fact, refer the complaint to David Benson-Pope, does the Minister now believe Mr Benson-Pope’s statement that he was not aware of any complaint of any kind about his behaviour?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I draw the attention of the House to the Otago Daily Times report in which the principal is, in fact, reported as saying that he may not have shown the letter to Mr Benson-Pope. There were obviously differences of opinion around that issue.
Does the Minister agree with the new policy introduced by Bayfield High School, as a result of the complaint about David Benson-Pope, that only female teachers should carry out duties of supervision of female students in camps, dormitories, and showers?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
As I said before, I expect all schools to have appropriate policies to cover such issues as camps, and that school appears to have one.
Has the Minister considered whether Bruce Leadbetter, a Labour Party activist in Dunedin, may have colluded with David Benson-Pope to hide the complaint in order to protect Mr Benson-Pope’s chances of selection as Labour’s candidate in the red-ribbon seat of Dunedin South?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
No. I am advised by the laughter behind me—and people will be able to tell from that—that there is no suspicion that Mr Leadbetter has been colluding in this way, although I imagine that he would be available to give lessons to Mr English, who is obviously colluding at this moment to take over from Don Brash.
Does the Minister realise how much damage these events are doing to Labour’s stewardship of public education, when new allegations keep surfacing, despite Mr Benson-Pope’s denials, and when the Prime Minister appears willing to defend Mr Benson-Pope at all costs, regardless of the public perception of the dangers he posed to young New Zealanders when he was a teacher?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
As Mr Winston Peters pointed out, people in this House will want to know whether the circumstances here were rooted in fact. That is what people will want to base their opinions on. I accept the version of events that has been put to this House by Mr Benson-Pope. He is an honourable member, and I accept his word.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
How much credence does the Minister give to the National Party’s position, when an opportunity was sought today to provide an answer to this House, and the National Party members denied leave for that to happen?
Madam SPEAKERRt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Has the Minister received any reports that go to the question of credibility and integrity with regard to the National Party position, when in fact an opportunity was sought in this House today for Mr Benson-Pope to give an explanation, and the National Party members denied it?
I am sorry—there is no ministerial responsibility for that, but the member has had the opportunity to put the point.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. If he has received a report, then it becomes a question of ministerial responsibility, and given that some members here want to conduct their daily affairs through laptops, he could have received that report in the last minute.
I thank the member. The member is actually correct—his question asked whether the Minister had received any reports. So would the Minister like to address the question, as the Minister of Education, not commenting on anything else in respect of the Opposition.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
I can confirm that I have received no such reports confirming the lack of credibility of the National Party. However—