8. Dr ASHRAF CHOUDHARY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
What reports, if any, has he received on the importance of transparency in tertiary education policy?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
Transparency in policy development and implementation is very important, especially in tertiary education. For example, when the Government pledged to remove interest on student loans in 2005, we did just that. It has not always been so. An earlier tertiary education pledge was to abolish student fees altogether, and the politician involved even pledged to resign if the fees were not abolished—one can see his saying it on YouTube. The fees were not abolished, of course; instead, they were doubled. The politician did not resign, of course; he is still here—just over there. He is the same politician who was caught out last weekend saying: “There’s some bloody dead fish you have to swallow … to get into government …”. Some things never change, and I congratulate the member on his consistency.
Dr Ashraf Choudhary Link to this
Has the fashionable pledging to resign if tertiary education policy promises are not kept ever happened?
Well, no, not in recent times, not in tertiary education. Elsewhere the pattern of making such pledges is re-emerging from none other than John Key, who has pledged to resign if he cuts superannuation or changes the eligibility rules. Unfortunately for Mr Key, his party already has a track record of signing pledges up and down the land, then gaily ignoring them.
Gordon CopelandWill the Minister, in the interests of transparency, and given that we know that the costing has been done, rule out any announcement between now and the election concerning the introduction of universal student allowances or a timetable for the introduction of universal student allowances; if not, why not?
It is a pleasure to repeat afresh the policy of the Government. The Government’s policy is to move towards, but not directly to, a universal allowance regime. This continues the pattern of nine Budgets in each of which there has been some improvement, large or small, for the student population. That contrasts with the 9 years prior to that; every year, the fate of students, the financial pressure on them, got progressively and inexorably worse. If members want to know which party in this House takes care of affordability in tertiary education, they should do no more than consult history.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I draw to your attention that my question was very specific: would he rule out an announcement between now and the election campaign, in the interests of transparency, etc. You will rule that he addressed the question, but he did not actually answer it. I point out that if, in fact—
Madam SPEAKERWell, I will just point out to the member that that is what the rules require, and I will say it again—
No, I am sorry. Points of order should also be made succinctly. The Minister may not have answered the question, but the Minister did address the question. If he wishes to add to his answer, I invite him to do so.
Madam Speaker, let me repeat my answer, and then you can decide whether I merely addressed the question or answered it. Government policy continues to be that we will move towards, but not directly to, universal student allowances. What clearer answer than that does the member want?
Dail JonesDoes the Minister accept that the New Zealand First policy to abolish universal student allowances will do a great deal to retain young people in New Zealand and stop the drift of young people—
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Was that the revelation of a secret agenda, which we shall see played on TV3 later this evening?
That is not a point of order. We will have this question in silence, because I cannot hear. Has the member got a supplementary question?
Does the Minister accept that if students receive universal student allowances that do not have to be repaid and therefore become student debt, that will encourage young New Zealanders to stay in New Zealand and stop the drift of people overseas?
I am not sure that I got the entirety of that question, but I can say that, in general, the Government finds itself well supported by the Greens, by, in particular, United Future, and now by, it seems, New Zealand First, in ensuring that the affordability of tertiary education gets better and better in this country, whereas the history of the members on the other side of the House is precisely the opposite.