I was not intending to speak on this bill, the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill, but I feel I must respond to the comments made by the previous speaker, Mr Robertson. This should be a relatively non-controversial bill. Under the provisions of this bill, the size of polytechnic councils will be reduced to eight members. Currently, the number of members range from 12 to 20. The bill also provides for the Minister for Tertiary Education to appoint 50 percent of the members. I do not intend to go on in a great deal of detail in respect of the provisions of this bill.
Grant Robertson: I think I know what he’s going to talk about.
JOHN BOSCAWEN: Mr Robertson started his speech by saying this has been a very bad week for democracy. I am very pleased Mr Robertson said that, because he has it within his power to do something about it. He and his colleagues have it within their power to do something about it. He talked about the Government not listening in respect of the Māori seats. But most people in this Chamber this week have not reflected on the fact that 1.5 million people voted No in the referendum; 1.5 million people said they do not want it to be a criminal offence to lightly smack a child.
Brendon Burns: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I thought we were discussing the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill.
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy): The debate is generally a broad one, and I think the member is traversing material that has already been brought up by members of his own party. I ask the member to continue, but I just remind him that this is a bill about polytechnics.
JOHN BOSCAWEN: I do not intend to talk for much longer, but I was very interested to listen to Mr Burns’ comments and to hear him talk about his experience as a member of a polytechnic council. He said he is probably the only person in this Chamber who has been a member of a polytechnic council. I can say to Mr Burns that I have lectured at a polytech. I lectured in accounting some 25 years ago. If Mr Burns wants me to talk in some detail about my experience as a lecturer at a polytech, in the same way as he spoke about his experience as a councillor, I will be happy to do so.
Let me just sum up my comments in this way. The Prime Minister has given a response this afternoon to my member’s bill, the Crimes (Reasonable Parental Control and Correction) Amendment Bill. He said that the National Government is not prepared to support it at its first reading. I put the focus back on the Labour members. I say to them, to Mr Robertson and his colleagues, that they can support this bill at its first reading. They can represent the 87 percent who voted No in the referendum. I ask them to reflect on the embarrassment that that would cause to the National Government if Labour members were to support this bill. Mr Robertson said that it has been a very bad week for democracy, but he and his colleagues will have a chance to do something about that. If he wants to have the issues associated with this referendum aired before a select committee, by way of public discussion, the onus is on that member and his colleagues to support it. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker Roy.