7. KATRINA SHANKS (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What recent announcements has the Government made about schooling provision in the Wellington area?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
Last week I announced that a new primary school will be built in Churton Park in Wellington at the Amesbury Drive site. The population growth in Churton Park has caused school rolls in the area to swell, and projections show that there will be 600 additional primary-age student places by 2021. The new Churton Park school is one of 11 schools to be built over the next 3 years, six of which have been brought forward by this Government as part of our fast tracking of school building projects.
I did consider whether the current Churton Park School should be relocated to this new site in order to create a single primary school for the whole Churton Park area. This proposal would have created a very large primary school with a roll of more than a thousand students, and I believe that the interests of this community are better served by having two primary schools.
Hon Chris CarterHow do the educational gains of using recycled property money for pet projects compare with the educational loss of the freezing or canning of a huge number of literacy, truancy, and teacher professional development initiatives that she has carried out since gaining office?
I know that the former Labour Minister of Education, Steve Maharey, stated in July 2007, that the Labour—
Hon Ruth DysonThe member should be patient; I am getting there. The member should just listen for another couple of words. He said “The Labour-led Government has prioritised funding to build a new full primary school … in Churton Park.” Contrary to those sorts of expectations, no prioritisation of those funds ever occurred under the previous Government. I am advised now that this new school will have to be funded from the Government’s $500 million commitment to school property over the next 3 years. It was all words from that previous Government, and no deeds.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do accept that my question was quite long—we all know in this House that Mrs Tolley’s attention span is not long—but she did nothing to address—
Mr SPEAKERThe member will not use the point of order procedure in that way. The member is concerned about the answer to his question, but when he puts into a question an accusation that a Minister was playing political games, he will not get a very straight answer.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question was about literacy, numeracy, and professional development programmes that are being—
I just wish the Hon Chris Carter would actually reflect on the questions as he is asking them. The way he started the question made it very clear it was not a particularly serious, straight question, because he built the issue of playing political games into his question. A member cannot expect a Minister to give a clear answer when that is built into the question. I have ruled on the matter. I have warned the honourable member. We will go to the next question.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I take objection. You have just said that my question was not a serious question. My question was about cuts to existing programmes in literacy, numeracy, and truancy. They are very serious issues, it was a serious question, and the Minister did not address it.
The member will resume his seat. If he had asked a straight question, he would have received a straight answer. I just wish the member would think about the questions he asks before he wastes the time of the House on such points of order.
The member will resume his seat. I warn the honourable member that I view wasting the time of the House on spurious points of order very seriously. I warn the member of that. To me, that is one of the most serious offences, because this Parliament, funded by taxpayers, is a place where Ministers are held to account. That is an important process, and I warn the member that I will not accept spurious points of order. If the member checks his Hansard, and I invite him to do so, he will see what he actually asked the Minister—and I guarantee the member I am not wrong.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would therefore like to have a commitment from you that if the Hansard reveals that that is exactly the question I asked, then you will apologise to me.
Hon David Cunliffe Link to this
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is a different point of order. I seek your clarification about whether rules about the length of questions and answers will be even-handed between the two. The reason I am asking this now—and it is relevant to this situation—is that you indicated that a supplementary question I asked earlier today in question No. 3 was too long, and I stopped. It is my judgment—and I stand to be corrected by the Hansard—that it was considerably shorter than the answer the Minister gave to that question.
If the member actually checks back on his Hansard, he will find that the question that he asked was not a question. He started the question with “Given”. If he checks his Hansard, he will find that I am absolutely correct. That is what led to the disorder in the House and led to the difficulty with his question. In terms of the general principle, answers will inevitably be a little longer than questions are, because questions ask for information and in order to allow information to be given answers will take a little longer. I have been concerned about the excessive length of some answers, and I felt that Ministers were improving somewhat on not taking too long to answer questions. But if the member checks back on his Hansard, he will find that his supplementary question that led to difficulty did not, in fact, start as a question.
Charles ChauvelCan the Minister assure the House that the Churton Park Community Association and other local groups will be fully consulted by her ministry with regard to the construction of the new school in Amesbury Drive, as well as any consequential changes that are required to the existing school on Churton Drive, further to my requests to her in letters dated 9 December 2008 and 17 February 2009?
Yes, I can assure that member that a prescribed process of consultation is now under way with the community. That is part of what one has to do to establish a new school. As he will see from the correspondence that he has received from me, I am happy to keep him informed.
Charles Chauvel: I seek leave to table my letters to the Minister that sought assurances as to consultation, dated 9 December 2008 and 17 February 2009.