September 11 Question 2: Emissions Trading Scheme

2. MOANA MACKEY (Labour) to the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues: What landmark environmental legislation has passed recently?

Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues) : Legislation for an emissions trading scheme and legislation to introduce biofuels have both been passed by Parliament in the last fortnight. The emissions trading scheme being phased in over the next 5 years is a cornerstone of the Governments climate change action. It will create incentives to invest in cleaner technology, improve the efficiency of our production, and encourage climate-friendly investment such as forestry. The Biofuel Act will see vehicles start to run on sustainable biofuels, marking a transition away from reliance on imported oil

Moana Mackey: How will these two pieces of legislation affect ordinary New Zealanders?

Hon DAVID PARKER: These initiatives will future-proof our country, cushion the impact of rising oil and electricity prices, and ensure access for our primary exports into high-value markets. The country already faces a cost under the Kyoto Protocol for increases in emissions. The emissions trading scheme will reduce that cost by reducing emissions, and emitters rather than just taxpayers will start to bear the cost of their greenhouse gas pollution. To help New Zealand families, we are instigating the biggest push for household energy efficiency ever seen—$1 billion to help make New Zealand homes warmer, dryer, and cheaper to heat.

Hon Dr Nick Smith: Will he accept responsibility for errors made in this critical legislation, given that he insisted on introducing and passing 785 amendments on one day, or will he do as Annette King has on the Electoral Finance Act and blame officials, Parliament, and everyone else but Labour for mistakes?

Hon DAVID PARKER: The National Party always resorts to process arguments when it has none of substance. Once again, we see National this week being caught saying one thing to one audience, one thing to another. David Carter was reported in the Gisborne paper this week as saying—

Hon Dr Nick Smith: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question asked whether he will accept responsibility for mistakes in the legislation. We have heard all sorts of other irrelevancies. I think the Minister should address the question.

Hon DAVID PARKER: Of course I take responsibility for the legislation; I took it through the House. The National Party has once again been caught telling audiences what it thinks they want to hear. We had David Carter in Gisborne earlier this week saying that it was an economic folly to bring agriculture into an emissions trading scheme.

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[sekamenacerecords1]

I didn't used to believe in anthropogenic climate change, then I looked at all the evidence. You clowns should actually educate yourselves before claiming that this is hoax or doesn't exist just because you've seen some stupid conspiracy video on YouTube. Fact is, most anti climate change proponents have the backing of big industry who rely on keeping people stupid to continue pumping out production of their products at low cost.

[MrHuddo]

What a load!

[ntn1987]

Man-made climate change is modern days' greatest fallacy.

[MRMILO57]

In Australia, we're ear bashed everyday about the climate change hoax. The Australian media are full of eco-freaks who believe in the 'pixie science'.

They are still pissed off because the Labour Governments ETS (emissions trading scheme) was blocked in federal parliament by the Australian Nationals/Liberal Governments.

But common sense back in the Australian Parliament, the Nationals are leading.