"\u003C!DOCTYPE html\u003E\u003Chtml xmlns:xlink=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\u0022 xmlns:xsi=\u0022http://www.w3.org/2007/XMLSchema-instance\u0022 xmlns:mml=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\n    \u003CMETA http-equiv=\u0022Content-Type\u0022 content=\u0022text/html; charset=utf-16\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmeta name=\u0022viewport\u0022 content=\u0022width=device-width, initial-scale=1\u0022\u003E\n  \u003C/head\u003E\n  \u003Cbody style=\u0022font-family:sans-serif; font-size:100%;\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022feb963400f4143ae8f4c62d3d12a9fd7\u0022\u003EThursday, 23 August 2012\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229d30ff642832450bbecab0caaa8d4d69\u0022\u003EThursday, 23 August 2012\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000002\u0022\u003EMr Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022a26b7c1f33744c64a4ba353e17d8dbdd\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002214b575cd1fe54a37bc5c4ea5bd49f74a\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022371031f719d64eb4aafddbd8cc193360\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022371031f719d64eb4aafddbd8cc193360\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E When the House resumes on Tuesday, 28 August the Government will look to complete the third reading of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill, the first reading of the National War Memorial Park (Pukeahu) Empowering Bill, Part 2 of the Alcohol Reform Bill, and any other partially completed Government bills. Wednesday is a members\u2019 day, and the Business Committee has agreed to extend hours on 29 August for a debate on the Social Services Committee Inquiry into the identification, rehabilitation, and care and protection of child offenders, and the second readings of the Legislation Bill, the Identity Information Confirmation Bill, and the Electronic Identity Verification Bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002219507bc5e7b3404ba65e62d76bccdc36\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002219507bc5e7b3404ba65e62d76bccdc36\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E Is the Government going to make it clear to the House whether it is its intention to move on Thursday next week to any part of the alcohol legislation, and to make it clear that there will be conscience votes on both Wednesday and Thursday in the House, which is quite an unusual situation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022c95ee5d2ea104d2d97efa0c07635f6f3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c95ee5d2ea104d2d97efa0c07635f6f3\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E The House will deal with the Committee stage of Part 2 of the Alcohol Reform Bill on Thursday, and the decision about how votes are cast is, of course, between the parties and the Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223febd9b688a647a59632907677e30e4f\u0022\u003EQuestions for Oral Answer\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002295dbb2ecf6244e1099e908526d4edb77\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002211fc7e0e4993430e9f8feadd7335f2af\u0022\u003EKiwiRail\u2014Turnaround Plan, Network Maintenance, and Confidence in Board\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022 data-id=\u00229cafc767964747869258e8c613bf5316\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229cafc767964747869258e8c613bf5316\u0022\u003EPHIL TWYFORD (Labour\u2014Te Atat\u016B)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he have confidence in the board of KiwiRail?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002244ca4e63b0a0416ea8783bdd7f937225\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002244ca4e63b0a0416ea8783bdd7f937225\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d9a0b1373244de3b1ae206cea01689a\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Has the board of KiwiRail advised him that from 2014 onwards the rail asset will decline and disruption risk will grow, that when spending gets back to current levels it will take many years to pull back from the decline, that virtually all rail routes will run down in some way, and that by 2015 KiwiRail will be doing 50 percent less track renewal work; if so, how can he still have confidence in the board?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e4704e09cfe4122856e9f202b8e1c3d\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I do not know where the member got those statistics from. What I would urge him to do is to identify where he got them from and whom he got them from. What I suspect is that this is an internal document in which KiwiRail has scoped risks to its network and made it clear that it needed to make investment in its network. So, if I might say, rather than those things happening, we expect over the next few years $750 million to be invested in upgrading the network, and that will include up to $80 million a year in maintenance. That is quite a different picture from the one the member is trying to paint. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ce790ba41e14a0d998ef3f978a95360\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Has the board of KiwiRail advised him that the amount to be spent on timber bridges will be cut substantially, projects on the main trunk line will be cancelled or deferred, the overall condition of railway sleepers will decline, and KiwiRail will have to accept a higher level of unplanned disruptions such as slips and erosion?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225529f4d343764408aad3ae00a60b2d5f\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, once again, the member is trying to speak as if he has some document that he can authoritatively quote from without giving any context of it. My answer is that, no, it has not advised me of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022398c8f61b888438884bcd5e82d7f95a4\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Has the board of KiwiRail advised him that the coal routes between Lyttelton and the West Coast and the route known as the golden triangle of forestry, which runs between Hamilton, Murupara, and Kawerau, have been coded by KiwiRail as TM4, which means their track metrics are unacceptable and pose a safety risk and are prejudicial to the customer base; if so, how can he still have confidence in the board?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299fa8634adcf44ad854eaa6cd2f296ad\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I assume that the member is indicating that KiwiRail has itself identified a number of risks to the network that will require investment. I can confirm that in 2012 the capital investment is $216 million, in 2013 it will be $163 million, in 2014 it will be $133 million, in 2015 it will be $174 million, and in 2016 it will be $175 million. In 2005, when his Government bought the thing, it spent $53 million. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c46bab440aea4b948a106421696ddd71\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The supplementary question contained two questions. The first one was whether the Minister had been advised and the second one was, if so, how he still has confidence in KiwiRail. It would be helpful if either of those questions were answered and if the Minister could indicate to the House whether he had been advised of these matters. It would appear from his answer he had not, but it would be helpful to know, or whether he still has confidence in the board, because those were the two questions asked. I call the Hon Gerry Brownlee\u2014because the Minister did not answer\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219f992b6abcf4594b08fc8eb781d287c\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I was unaware that you were asking questions, Mr Speaker, but the answer simply is that I have confidence in the board of KiwiRail because it identifies risks to the network and then comes along with a capital programme that would be needed to mitigate those risks. That is a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242a4d539c433452286289311077041bb\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I thought one of the rules, when electronic devices were allowed in here, was that answers from Ministers were not to be supplied by way of them, the way that one was through Mr Joyce\u2019s device then.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dae32fc53cf64c15bf6821db18ef9dd1\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! That is not a point of order. How members use their electronic devices, so long as they do not interfere in the proceedings of the House, is up to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a536d3c2-6293-4216-b0bd-dfec1bd6f40c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d981e0f358814784b0465d79fad16096\u0022\u003EAndrew Williams\u003C/span\u003E: Given the numerous instances of rail track defects and neglect, will he immediately review the KiwiRail Turnaround Plan and direct the KiwiRail board to stop the planned redundancies of around 200 maintenance staff; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac60be5c6b4a4611b37b2945a2f46294\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, one of the ways in which you can measure the quality and condition of a rail track is by looking at the incidence of derailment. Derailment may be just one wheel or it may be a whole train. In New Zealand seldom is it a whole train. But what I can report to the House is that the incidence of derailment in the last couple of years has fallen dramatically\u2014fallen dramatically\u2014because track maintenance has been a priority for KiwiRail since it took over the very distressed asset, paid for at a record amount. In fact, it was paid for at what you would say was a bonanza price for the then owners by the New Zealand First - Labour Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfa3a6574dd34babbaa239c8b580587d\u0022\u003EClare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the statement\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab78207d8cd048ba97cda02f84f81130\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You will be aware that there was never any New Zealand First - Labour Government, so why was he allowed to say so?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225dd27184eee344c9905598765fa172c4\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I really think that if the Speaker was to interfere in every one of those little comments, it would be too much interference. I think the matter should be allowed to pass.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e2444990edd43d288424963465f4adc\u0022\u003EClare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the statement of the Associate Minister of Transport, Simon Bridges, on 14 August that \u201CThe Turnaround Plan that KiwiRail is instituting is about business sustainability and putting precious funds to their best possible uses, but in no way, shape, or form is this compromising safety.\u201D; if so, has he been informed by the KiwiRail board of an engineer losing his sight from flying shards when tightening a nut while repairing one of the faulty China North Rail locomotives?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022230d7090cb2940999f4147f80409e2c9\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I do agree with the comments made by the Hon Simon Bridges.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cef50ff49b1447daf768035d9942012\u0022\u003EClare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table an email informing me of this incident where the engineer lost his sight.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af274eeb43e04e209a4843bcb777cc64\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227585ab24f5e94d0a812c9cf46da689a9\u0022\u003EClare Curran\u003C/span\u003E: Has he been informed by the chair of the board of KiwiRail of the appointment of Leon Bennett, the former private secretary for Wayne Mapp, who is not a chartered professional engineer, to the most senior mechanical engineering position in KiwiRail; if so, what action did he take when he was informed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222253c179e7194d8a909122c9a2125e07\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: No. That is an operational matter, and Ministers do not interfere in those operational matters.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022734845f4263d45a6b197b85e4f72d3fb\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Will he ask the chair of the board to tell KiwiRail management to call off the cuts to network maintenance because of the risk they pose to the organisation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c13480df0de48a6b4a8a352feae2203\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Once again, the member is presuming to speak from an authoritative document that he has not named and that he has not tabled, and that therefore has, I think, very little authority. What I can say is that the chairman of KiwiRail has been overseeing a Turnaround Plan that will see KiwiRail invest $750 million over the next few years in the network. That is a good thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dbbc3df6dece43999efd4bf49ca2c38d\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question was direct and quite simple, and I do not believe that the Minister even addressed the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225fc657bb82804925a8bace43a03cf2dd\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I will allow the member to repeat his question, because when I repeated the question for the member last time, I was accused of asking questions on behalf of members. So the member may repeat his question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bdf42368956f4ef6af8eb3fa4430c6b9\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Your assistance is always appreciated. Will he ask the chair of the board to tell KiwiRail management to call off the cuts to network maintenance because of the risk they pose to the organisation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c1c07b130ff45ba85cbe022187616b8\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I do not accept the hypothetical behind the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220fa9163077e447f397fce50e2c00d35f\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Will he acknowledge not only that KiwiRail cannot meet the financial targets of the Turnaround Plan, as the Minister did in this House last week, but also that the Turnaround Plan is unrealistic and is driving KiwiRail to make decisions like sacking 181 workers and deferring $200 million of network maintenance?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0107097a95c43f9aa4f14ad3653d774\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Once again, a supposition is put to the House as if it is authoritative. It is not. What I can say is that KiwiRail is doing its very best to effect the Turnaround Plan. It will put $750 million into the network in the next few years. That will make the operation safer. All the member is doing is pointing out to the whole world what a huge dog this thing was when his Government bought it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228e7d5e5b8cc5421b8113a97aa83626ff\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary question, Phil Twyford\u2014[Interruption] Order! I want to hear Phil Twyford\u2019s supplementary question. [Interruption] Order! That is sufficient. I want to hear Phil Twyford\u2019s supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbc37df2-57ae-4536-94ed-a2e39eecd585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cfe43556784a466e97b682dc2b92af9b\u0022\u003EPhil Twyford\u003C/span\u003E: Is he satisfied that the board of KiwiRail acted appropriately in trying to cover up information on the cuts to network maintenance by taking out an injunction against the news media publishing the contents of this report?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1340f9b58434acabec80a258375f7b1\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, absolutely, because the media outlet that wanted to publish an opinion about that document was going to do so in a most irresponsible way.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e27c2331698d415ea07bf56271d19bde\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the infrastructure and engineering business plan 2013-15 of KiwiRail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c8ea85852ab46c9855e83571a1a5952\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a89c933e6524403e9ad2eba85f5e9def\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f85c2c01644d4606878716b67a199fa9\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member can object.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022907134de4c1048fcbf1884b53b3ddc64\u0022\u003EHon GERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, Mr Speaker, you cannot ask the House to grant leave to circumvent a court injunction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e32e2ce1cdd44bf381b0694387a01b53\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I beg your pardon\u2014I beg your pardon. Let me seek advice on this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5a45d0418dc44a8b233bbfa822d82d4\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Just to make it absolutely clear, my understanding is that there is not a general injunction against the publication of this document. It applies to only one radio station. It does not apply to me and it does not apply to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228954e614174c4a079db8dd4f993f5f19\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The interesting point that is being made was the last point\u2014that such an injunction probably does not apply to this House. But members, in deciding whether or not they will grant leave for the document to be tabled, may well bear in mind the issue that there are injunctions around the document, or court orders around the document. That is a matter that members may well consider in deciding whether or not to grant leave for it to be tabled. But it is my feeling that it would be inappropriate for me to refuse the House the opportunity to decide whether or not it wishes to grant leave for the document. So I will put it to the House. Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022442cb90bded54aaa8e55b89b460e5e13\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the invitation of the Leader of the House, the acting Minister for State Owned Enterprises, to provide documentation that backed up my colleague\u2019s questions, I seek leave to table the executive summary and outcomes section of the infrastructure and engineering business plan.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f20f776f5a34494859440839586d53f\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table just the executive summary and outcomes from the report as a document. Is there any objection to that course of action? There is objection. [Interruption] Order! Any member of the House has the right to refuse leave for a document to be tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022404c7ef8deea4c96bf35325647cd2291\u0022\u003EEconomic Growth\u2014Progress and Initiatives\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022 data-id=\u00223afb2f65f7e24f9b8ed249a1b0926f8f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223afb2f65f7e24f9b8ed249a1b0926f8f\u0022\u003EMAGGIE BARRY (National\u2014North Shore)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: What reports has he received on the Canterbury economy and what effect will this have on the national economy?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u00224d9f6ae14cde43f088262edbcbb65fbb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224d9f6ae14cde43f088262edbcbb65fbb\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E The National Bank\u2019s regional trends survey released this week shows that the Canterbury economy grew 4.4 percent in the year to June, its strongest annual rate of increase for any individual region since 2007. The Auckland economy grew 3.0 percent in the year to June. These regions contributed to moderate nationwide growth of 1.9 percent in the year to June.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f98f9cc95efa4c049018d690ef684881\u0022\u003EMaggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the Government\u2019s programme to build a more competitive economy based on more exports and less debt, what steps is the Government taking to promote business growth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d6c527f68f584f768a620210d73f7dca\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: The Government is setting out to assist with business growth across all regions of New Zealand. The Business Growth Agenda is based on the idea that business confidence and growth create sustainable, high-paying jobs and boost our standard of living. Last week we released the progress report on building our export markets, and this week we produced the progress report on building innovation. The Government is focused on assisting businesses to make the decisions that lift growth\u2014that is, the decisions to invest a bit more, employ another person, and pay a higher wage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296c3f4054f3d4f3a981ad744d5eb4696\u0022\u003EMaggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: Given the unsustainable build-up in New Zealand\u2019s indebtedness in recent decades, what progress is the Government making in lifting household savings and reducing household debt?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a431e6a3415443a9abddf0a81c2d1e1\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: The Government is focusing on lifting its own savings and reducing its own debt. Households, though, are making progress with the very substantial debt New Zealand households have. Savings are up, and household debt is down. The most recent data shows that net household savings are positive for the first time since the year 2000, and positive for only the second time in 19 years, since 1993. Household debt as a percentage of disposable income has fallen from 155 percent of GDP in 2009\u2014one of the highest levels of household debt in the developed world\u2014to around 140 percent. This is moderate progress, but it is progress in the right direction.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022736a5c0b-8df3-4047-ba26-632ba2798b4c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2d31707b0c9452088d71c31dc0c51c9\u0022\u003EMaggie Barry\u003C/span\u003E: What reports on alternative approaches to managing the economy has he received?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9d5dfb7285f413388ab3442a379c971\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: I have seen one such report recently that included as an economic policy \u201CChanging Gear\u201D. It was from the Labour Party. It did not say whether it was changing to a slower gear or reverse gear, but it is changing gear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002295df026385a74a6e8a5a87be79f562c3\u0022\u003EChild Poverty, Abuse, and Neglect\u2014Every Child Counts Recommendations and Incomes Report\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u00221cd5856fc18b4f4f8070cadc6e6f98da\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cd5856fc18b4f4f8070cadc6e6f98da\u0022\u003EJACINDA ARDERN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development: Does she agree with the recommendation made by Every Child Counts in its Netherlands Study that national indicators of child well-being should be adopted so progress can be measured; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022 data-id=\u002286c5a5d8ea574f2f8a0583cf0e908f2d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002286c5a5d8ea574f2f8a0583cf0e908f2d\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development):\u003C/span\u003E The Government is already working on a number of the recommendations that have been made in this report, but this is not one of them. The children of this country do not have precious time to waste on yet another debate on what measures their well-being. This Government has led the most comprehensive and substantial debate on child well-being this country has ever seen, through its green paper process. The white paper will be out shortly, and the public can judge us on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9eec7315d1e49708cec7518c4ee9579\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Does she believe that a child can have all of its basic needs met while living in a household on 50 percent of the median income in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a6f2a4a61b33472e96b1ccad3dc7f8ba\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: I am sure that would not be easy, and I have absolutely no doubt that there are children in this country who are living in poverty. That is why this Government is focused on growing this economy and getting better jobs for those people, so that they can move off welfare, in many cases, and see a brighter future for themselves and their children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb2ba988c7474a33bb2912f28ba8c1cb\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Does she believe that the decrease in median household incomes in real terms, as set out in the incomes report released today, has played a role in hardship rates for children rising from 15 percent to 21 percent on her watch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b1f2c6c71324ff0bda45453ebfc1e2e\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, and I think that what we have seen is that the effects of the global economy have really hit those people hard. [Interruption] Well, it is the reality. The Labour Party members might like to think that that has not happened, but, actually, jobs were lost, people on part-time work lost some hours, and that, unsurprisingly, has had a direct effect on some of those people\u2019s household incomes. What we have done is protect those who are really at the bottom, with Consumers Price Index adjustments, by making sure that we actually looked after those who were on benefits when the GST changes were made, and by looking after those children and families, as I think we have got a role to do.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ec6733fe0744030aba5fb0105494684\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Does she agree with the suggestion in the Netherlands Study that a universal child or family benefit should be a medium-term goal for her Government as a way to move children out of poverty?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022382bde0cde35405282e0baf5e81eeb67\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: What I did note in that study also is that it talked about the economy of the Netherlands\u2014and, certainly, of those Nordic countries\u2014and about the kinds of choices you get to make when you have that stronger economy and that sort of money to spend. I think that that is what this Government is pretty well focused on. I hope we debate, when we have got extra cash to spend, where it goes and how those children get it. At the moment we have got the books to sort out, we have got a country to get back into surplus, and that is our focus.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d855d2d639d454ea822d3f88a969aa3\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question related directly to the suggestion in the study and to whether or not the Minister agreed that it should be a medium-term goal for the Government to look into a child or family benefit to move children out of poverty.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229c62abb6ade2497fb948f69851e74e85\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I accept that that was the question. The member did seek an opinion\u2014whether the Minister agreed\u2014but it would have been helpful if the Minister could have indicated in her answer whether or not she did agree with universal child support arrangements, if I recollect the question correctly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221dd92799e952435f87589ebc4faa7f77\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Certainly. My point is that actually the Netherlands economy is so much better off and they have so much more money to spend that they can make those sorts of choices as to whether or not they have a universal child benefit, or what it is they spend on. We actually do not have that luxury in New Zealand at this time, but I do hope that we do have it in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223962ff12c8264c44ab30b8750f2de726\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. My question did not ask about the relative economic situations in the Netherlands versus New Zealand. It asked whether or not as a consequence of the study, as recommended by Every Child Counts, the Government would be looking into the possibility of a child or family benefit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c0b5eb32c604081bc1050d0b37da44e\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Well, no, that was not what the question asked. The question asked whether the Minister agreed with that finding from the study that a universal child support system was important. The Minister in her answer, because the question was asking for her opinion\u2014whether she agreed with that\u2014indicated that at the moment she could not agree with that, because, she was arguing, New Zealand was not in a position to be even contemplating that at present, if I interpreted the Minister\u2019s answer correctly. If I am wrong then the Minister should correct me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fdd848d4c8f74bc48a840f7dafd5512f\u0022\u003EJacinda Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: Does she take any responsibility for, according to the income report released today, under her Government inequality in New Zealand being the worst it has ever been?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221fcdbdffa7ab4a0b905a87c115afe13e\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: As I have already said, I am sure that the Labour Party would like to ignore the conditions of the last 3\u00BD years. But they are real. They have affected, if anyone, those on the lower and middle incomes of this country. We actually stand here, and I tell you what New Zealanders say: \u201CThank goodness for a National Government that has managed its way through it and is now seeing real progress.\u201D that I think we will see as we move out of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211bb97041ce949f484887d98992962a0\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Could I invite you either to ask the Minister to answer the question, or to provide an interpretation for us, as you did previously, to indicate what the answer was, if, in fact, the question was addressed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ebf5438d39b4689a473d8ba05a92011\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, in fairness, the question was certainly addressed, because the Minister clearly indicated in her answer that she did not disagree with what the member was saying in her question, and explained why she did not disagree with what the member was proposing in her question. I cannot get too pedantic about the detail of an answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223a8af4f8019f4c17a5c9d710b7d1f1f2\u0022\u003EAccident Compensation Corporation\u2014Reports on Release of Personal Information and Governance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u0022bd25e867d4394a3fa0b1dac368794ac9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bd25e867d4394a3fa0b1dac368794ac9\u0022\u003EDAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for ACC: What are the findings of reports released today by the Privacy Commissioner and the Auditor-General about a privacy breach and governance at ACC?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022 data-id=\u00220af05fd825544258af06a99f57485934\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220af05fd825544258af06a99f57485934\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister for ACC):\u003C/span\u003E The independent report released by the Privacy Commissioner focused on ACC\u2019s culture, policies, and practices around privacy and security of information. It found that these were not up to 21st century standards. The Auditor-General focused on governance of the corporation, and found that senior board members involved and management failed to recognise the systems of systemic failure around privacy and security information, and did not take the appropriate steps. I agree with all the findings.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259ea4dd21a124157b2eb3aa410a93a06\u0022\u003EDavid Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What specific concerns did the independent report and the Auditor-General raise, and what is ACC doing to address these?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022944a177ec68742b4bfb0ec204d57cdeb\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: The independent report released by the Privacy Commissioner noted systemic weaknesses, including a variable culture around the importance of handling private information carefully and a lack of accountability for addressing privacy issues. ACC will undertake a significant programme of work to address concerns raised by both the independent report and the Auditor-General. A timetable for this programme of work is included in the report from the Privacy Commissioner, and I expect ACC to make the required changes as a priority.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdb1ed77a7df4e8793ff557f94c435dc\u0022\u003EAndrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: In view of the findings in today\u2019s reports, both released at 2 p.m., that ACC board members, which her Government appointed, were too inexperienced to appreciate the gravity of Bronwyn Pullar\u2019s complaints, and that the corporation took a cavalier attitude to protecting claimant privacy, what steps is she taking to fill the multiple board and senior management vacancies with people who understand ACC and the importance of utmost public confidence in it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022675c3e9c98ea4eb9b3bf0c7bad915e45\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: The question is not quite correct in one of the assumptions. I will deal with that first and then deal with the substance of the question. In fact, the board members who were named in the reports as having not appreciated the seriousness of the situation were its longest-serving board members\u2014the chair and deputy chair. In relation to the filling of the board positions, I can tell the member that there is a very thorough process that is ongoing. Interviews are being undertaken and I am putting a great deal of thought into making sure we get the right combination of board members with the right skills, the right character, and the right experience.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227562202d2e58435d96c50dafff6f062a\u0022\u003EDavid Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What expectations has she set for ACC to improve public trust and confidence in how it operates?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae4cbe0187a642da80a8836e1df67df2\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: Earlier this year I signed a letter of expectations and a service and purchase agreement with ACC outlining my priorities for the board. I expect the ACC board to improve public trust and confidence, improve the management and security of private information, maintain a focus on levy stability and financial sustainability, ensure early resolution of disputes, and provide high-quality service for clients. The Auditor-General noted that \u201Cthis approach will lead to a more balanced and comprehensive approach to the governance and operation of ACC.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022edf8696fd59440468223c6847b8f5c98\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the Privacy Commissioner\u2019s comment that the ACC culture change has to start at the top, what action has she taken to plug the leaks from her office?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002285ec30d4-6394-433a-a12e-2c4def705dd0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9475eabe6b341c68619e1f9c6faecd2\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH COLLINS\u003C/span\u003E: There are no leaks from my office, as that member well knows. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220d62cf279e4348e0bc7c4b941f9b3502\u0022\u003EState-owned Assets, Sales\u2014Timing\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022 data-id=\u00229c47ff5d0dc84174b165eb5452485cc4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229c47ff5d0dc84174b165eb5452485cc4\u0022\u003EHon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Is it still the Government\u2019s intention for the first partial privatisation of an SOE to occur in the third quarter of this year; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u0022dbfdac6eee59456199c5109fad55bf20\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dbfdac6eee59456199c5109fad55bf20\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Prime Minister)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister for State Owned Enterprises: Yes, that is our intention. As we have always said, the precise timing of all the Government\u2019s partial share offers will be subject to market conditions and other factors. In the case of Mighty River Power, the first offer, we are currently working through issues such as M\u0101ori rights and interests in water. The Waitangi Tribunal is due to report on its recommendations tomorrow. We are confident these issues can be resolved.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c54e240602344619b470f748f70aeffb\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the comments of Rob Cameron, head of the Capital Market Development Taskforce, that the management of the asset sales programme has been \u201Ca disaster\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f44579d5c36845fa803c3e0f0bd76af3\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: I do not believe that those comments are correctly attributed, and if they are, I do not agree with them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022805baa64a48741bea9a5ad3f41f0c187\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: How is it good management to first ignore then needlessly inflame a dispute over water rights, potentially costing the taxpayer millions of dollars from a reduced sale price\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c88d8b5e38df4890877b6c0c6a98b22e\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: Billions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0633b227dc1473a8e7b7183c1142810\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014billions\u2014and, potentially, billions more in legal compensation? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f11dc1cf0d734e1394902190193fcbe5\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: The member is simply wrong. The Government has been aware of M\u0101ori rights and interests in water since the day after it took office, and it has been working with a wide range of M\u0101ori representation on those issues. Those discussions continue in a constructive and positive manner. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb6f80bf21584afe9de171a81f1d83a0\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: Given that on 1 August he agreed with the Minister of Finance that the asset sales programme was \u201Con track\u201D, how does he reconcile that statement with the news that, as Bill English stated, Solid Energy will be delayed or even cancelled, Meridian Energy is being put over a barrel by tough negotiations by its biggest customer, the chair of Air New Zealand says that the price of the company is too low to sell, and Mighty River Power is faced with potential court action over disputed water rights?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3aafb93f0374e9088790181023e3932\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I just cannot recall exactly what his initial question was, but the sales are on track. The member is referring to a list of what are normal commercial risks. In fact, his question I think underlines the point that these companies are subject to commercial risks. The fact that they are owned by the Government does not make those go away. Our intention is to get an ownership structure where those commercial risks will be handled more constructively. And, actually, all I said about Solid Energy was that it is not ready for sale now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a536d3c2-6293-4216-b0bd-dfec1bd6f40c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293dd2bcafba845f8b48f6848d4cfe937\u0022\u003EAndrew Williams\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the Prime Minister\u2019s 7 August comment that the Government\u2019s asset sales have been hamstrung by the market; if so, has he had any discussions with the Prime Minister about shelving the mixed-ownership model?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bd22ac6c8c54aaa8dfef43776181858\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f9c512a8-d532-4ef9-ad51-0fe8d752a893\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221f2b687cd8d34afbaa5a141ce4588ecc\u0022\u003EHon Clayton Cosgrove\u003C/span\u003E: If the sale of State-owned assets does not meet revenue expectations due to his Government\u2019s mismanagement of the float or floats, what actions will his Government take to make up the financial shortfall?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc65a0bdd1ec427286a399a454be6260\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Any risks to the proceeds from the sales, which the Government has specified as being $5 billion to $7 billion, will not be to do with the Government\u2019s handling of the sales; they will be to do with companies like Solid Energy having to face the reality that coal prices have dropped, and the fact that electricity companies may face flat or falling electricity demand, for instance. Those are all real commercial risks, and we will not know until we are fairly well through the sales process whether the Government will realise $5 billion to $7 billion. We expect we will realise $5 billion to $7 billion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae6363d5dc3b4d22a66e20ef0e64b7d5\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora t\u0101tou katoa. Does the Minister accept that reports of difficult power price negotiations with Rio Tinto jeopardise the timing of the first partial privatisation of a State-owned enterprise, and how does this demonstrate the importance of keeping strategic assets in New Zealand control so that the New Zealand economy cannot be held to ransom by foreign-owned businesses?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a71e413272ef452db8c5f0874bf89f0d\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Firstly, I would point out that the so-called foreign-owned business has provided, on average, in excess of a thousand jobs in Southland since the early 1960s, and not too many other investors have actually done that. So let us keep that in perspective. Secondly, of course there is going to be some game playing around what are tough commercial negotiations between the owners of the smelter and Meridian Energy. I have to say that over the period since the mid-1960s, every time the aluminium price gets a bit low the owners of that business front up to the Government and try to get the electricity price down. There is nothing new. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a536d3c2-6293-4216-b0bd-dfec1bd6f40c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b26ee0d4bb524facbc4d1b01d5851351\u0022\u003EAndrew Williams\u003C/span\u003E: Does he agree with the other comment made by the Prime Minister on 7 August that \u201CWe don\u2019t have lots of flexibility and they are literally October-November of this year or March-April of next year\u201D; if that is the case, if Mighty River Power is not sold by March-April next year, what effect will it have on the future viability of the mixed-ownership model?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc507d9a1272415b9baf446e27892d96\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: That is a hypothetical question. The Government is on track for the sale of Mighty River Power this year. We have been working with M\u0101ori over water rights and interests for 3 years. Given that that is the principal issue related to Mighty River Power, we believe that that issue can be handled in a constructive and positive way, as it has been for the last 2 or 3 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002244e21f04b27b4d8386cc305ee9d9e33e\u0022\u003EState-owned Energy Companies, Sales\u2014Costs for Mighty River Power\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022 data-id=\u0022bf105d95bc214e9e86c0f8b1e70ef3d2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bf105d95bc214e9e86c0f8b1e70ef3d2\u0022\u003EDr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader\u2014Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Finance: How much has Mighty River Power spent to date on preparing itself for \u201Ctransition to the Mixed Ownership Model\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u0022caf6a62409aa4efba6da08697c17b454\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022caf6a62409aa4efba6da08697c17b454\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E First, I say to the member that this information will certainly be publicly available. However, Mighty River Power is subject to a disclosure regime similar to that of a publicly listed company, by Government policy, which means that all this information will be made available. Because of the strict legal requirements in the run-up to the float about the provision of information in relation to the individual company, the Government, by policy choice, is running a conservative policy that financial information will be released according to the disclosure regime, not through ad hoc parliamentary processes. I can tell the member that the number will be available on Tuesday next week, when the company discloses it as part of its annual results announcement.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bdfbc943b20a4622bb9bd85c1f31ff2e\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: In order to assist the House, I seek leave to table four documents. The first is a letter from Genesis Energy disclosing that it has so far spent $670,000 preparing for the mixed-ownership model process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d89bdeb68a2b4f25ae3ee102c65c3a64\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a788328f3f5e4cc3a1e921be293ef496\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: The second letter is a letter dated 14 August this year, from Meridian Energy, disclosing that Meridian Energy has spent $562,000 so far preparing for the mixed-ownership model.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d6d58c3bdeb4a4fa9b85c12c321f80a\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ebdc5c40a436496f92a4c4e18d810904\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: The third letter is from Solid Energy, dated 12 August, stating that Solid Energy has spent $131,000 so far preparing for mixed ownership.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e52ffc368e8f4a6985e0aa6e8635f56c\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. Please, I must hear this in silence so I can hear whether there is any objection. There is no objection on that one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af68dc88d7f14ccab93f28247c0804ed\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: The final one is a letter from Mighty River Power, refusing to release the information, dated 16 August this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e8e85b6e3ea47b09935754dc44b3b5d\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a5ffaae33ba46f6bc8e911b64aed7ec\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: Given that Mighty River Power, according to the Minister\u2019s answer, is going to be releasing the information on Tuesday, why on earth is the Minister not releasing the information today, on Thursday? Is it because the Government is embarrassed by the cost of the asset sale programme, which has now run aground like the Rena and is leaking money left, right, and centre?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d30bbabf8ccc49ed9c13c405626a7b30\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No, that is not the case. The Government intends to be fully transparent about the costs, but we are going about that in a disciplined manner in respect of Mighty River Power because of the strict legal requirements around information about particular companies. We do not intend to put ourselves at risk of breaking the law. I am not implying that giving the member the number now would break the law, but we do not want to put ourselves at risk of it. We have consistently said that the costs will be around 2 percent of the $5 billion to $7 billion proceeds. We plan to release all the information the member is seeking every quarter. That will prevent him carrying on with his campaign that the Government is somehow hiding these costs. We are not. They will be available, and it is unfortunate that that will be a bit less politically convenient for the member. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022804a20251bb845a4abb56bed2f342f8c\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I am just seeking your advice. The Minister has stated very clearly that he does not believe there is a legal reason preventing him from releasing it. I assume his argument is that it not in the public interest to release this information. Is that your understanding of why that answer is acceptable? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0c62e2242574b779b6a5e51c81af710\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Indeed, the only reason why the Minister could get away with not providing the information the member is seeking, which is pretty straightforward information, is that the Minister, if I heard him correctly, is arguing that it is not in the public interest because the Government has decided to follow the standard\u2014and forgive me for not remembering the correct terminology\u2014programme for release of such information under the public companies Act, is it? The Government has obviously made, one assumes, an assessment that that is the safest way, when dealing with these commercial things, to handle such a matter. So certainly it is the public interest that the Minister has invoked. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265caa94b923f41fdb49ad8de2e37b664\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Sorry, but in listening to the Minister\u2019s answer, he specifically said it was a matter of Government policy, rather than one of following the law in the Companies Act, or any other\u2014that it was a matter of Government policy. Is it OK for the Government to say: \u201CWe are not releasing information, just because it is our policy not to release information.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e08dfadc365c474a9f06e04155dc2d7b\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is absolutely at the Minister\u2019s discretion. Only the Minister can make the judgment about what is in the public interest. It would appear from his answer\u2014I stress \u201Cappear\u201D, because I know no more than the member\u2014that the Government, from what the Minister has said, has decided that the safest way to handle what is obviously a commercial transaction is to follow the standard procedures for release of such information, as it is a commercial transaction that is being carried out. It is a fair point that the member is raising, but the Speaker cannot second-guess the Minister. It is quite clear that the public interest is being invoked here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7191a072c0e42879bf0c9b23fa84dd1\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Government come up with this new policy of not releasing information, even though there is no legal objection to releasing that information, purely for the reason that the Minister gave in his answer, which is to block political opposition to the asset sale programme? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de60216f64bf4ff58ebb645da921b673\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: No, we would not dignify that member\u2019s opposition to it by going to so much trouble. The fact is the Government is not blocking the release of the information. It will be released on Tuesday. The general information about costs incurred in the process of the float will be released every quarter. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247b5e0d037074f86becf9e66f6bd5bb6\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: Are the millions being spent by the State-owned enterprises themselves in preparation for privatisation additional to the $106 million in Vote Finance that the Government has budgeted for the sales process, which includes things like public relations consultants, brokers\u2019 fees, and lawyers? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225943290a03e34e6ebb8b89114cc6ffb9\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: As we have said, we have made a general estimate of 2 percent of the proceeds of $5 billion to $7 billion. That is a reasonably wide range of costs because it is a bit hard to predict them out over a period of years. The fact is the total amounts will be available, whether they are spent by the company or the Government. I would say to the member that the expenditure of money by the companies is pretty small in comparison with the much stronger focus they now have on cost control and careful capital investment, which unchecked could have wasted hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers\u2019 money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022785d1bc7384b4ded88a944603182491d\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just before I call the member, I think the member\u2019s question was very clear actually on that occasion. The member asked whether the figures he quoted were in addition to any money that might be spent by the companies. I think that was not an unreasonable question to ask. In answering, the Minister said that the Government has made it clear that a certain amount of money will be spent\u2014some percentage\u2014but did not indicate whether that was in addition to the money that would be spent by the companies, which was a fair question. I ask the Minister to please come back to that question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225334d2ab64084fe490d1052aac5fdad3\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: We simply have not classified the costs in that way. We have made a broad estimate of 2 percent. The member is free to ask about any costs and whether they are part of the cost of sales. Over future years we think the total of all those costs will be around about 2 percent of proceeds, whether it is paid by the company or paid by the Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea5e754fb3a747529c50d8d45c427d07\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: Given that the costs of the asset sales programme that we know about include the $106 million in Vote Finance, the millions spent by the State-owned enterprises themselves, the money spent on the Waitangi Tribunal hearings, the hundreds of thousands spent on pay rises to energy company managers, potentially the hundreds of millions for the share giveaway, and the $100 million a year in additional deficits, are there any other, hidden costs of the asset sales programme that are not in that list?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c77a726160434c04b8a06b560a7c9a10\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. I think we will be adding to the list the expenditure by the Parliamentary Service Commission on people that the Greens have been paying to approach 12-year-olds\u201412-year-olds\u2014as I saw the other day, to sign a petition opposing asset sales. We will add that to the list. [Interruption]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd67e7a7a31b47339b7c6f05fae31c65\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I want to hear Dr Russel Norman\u2019s supplementary question. [Interruption] Order! I say to the National Party back corner there to please be reasonable. I must be able to hear the supplementary question. I see members looking around, saying who, me? But I can see you all from here, and there was too much noise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222f76015940b4a19a520d503e71f1aca\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: How would mum and dad shareholders be able to afford to buy shares in these companies when today\u2019s household income report shows that middle New Zealand is getting poorer under this Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228136d53e7db45caa89dc34d845da2c2\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: There are also a lot of figures that show that middle New Zealand is increasing its savings rate for pretty much the first time in a generation. Mums and dads are quite capable of making their own decisions on that. They will not be listening to what the Government tells them, and they certainly will not be listening to that member, because they will be worried that their taxpayer dollars have been spent by him on paying people to gather signatures from schoolchildren.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022683d22c4aa584538b84aeaacb3a1fef3\u0022\u003EDr Russel Norman\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister concerned that after 4 years of his Government, middle New Zealanders\u2019 after-tax incomes are in decline, and how will those middle mum and dad New Zealanders be able to afford to buy shares in these companies he is flogging off when their real after-tax incomes are decreasing?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002261a0fdd30f6846c080eb70386a5a63f2\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: We are a fair stretch from the primary question, but I do not want to deprive the honourable Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220e932746a7194fa98344e13926641f12\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: The member is, of course, being selective about his years, because the years prior to the one he is referring to showed significant increases in real after-tax disposable incomes. Of course, the year to which he is referring shows the impact of a sharp rise in unemployment, particularly among lower-income workers. New Zealand mums and dads are quite capable of making their own decisions about whether they can put money aside for this purpose, or whether to put it aside for reducing their credit card debt or their mortgage. We believe New Zealanders are responsible and capable. Clearly, that member believes New Zealanders should be protected from themselves.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002232b9deb1fb5f4d96b5a8088528c5efa6\u0022\u003EScience and Research Funding\u20142012 Science Investment Round Grants\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022 data-id=\u0022d72cdd8c1c374c5db085d7cc33c66f15\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d72cdd8c1c374c5db085d7cc33c66f15\u0022\u003ESCOTT SIMPSON (National\u2014Coromandel)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Science and Innovation: What new investment is the Government making in science and research?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022 data-id=\u00224220224ea259451996530c9c99006994\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224220224ea259451996530c9c99006994\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Science and Innovation):\u003C/span\u003E Today I announced that New Zealand researchers have been awarded $133 million in new research grants, including $32.8 million in this current financial year, as part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment\u2019s 2012 science investment round. Applications for the grant were reviewed by independent experts and selected by the ministry\u2019s science board. In total, 47 research projects were awarded grants in the areas of biological industries, energy and minerals, hazards and infrastructure, the environment, and health and society. Funding for research in the high-value manufacturing and services sector will be announced in the coming weeks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002298dbeffa-e059-49d5-8bbf-579cbaead9a3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232c8d2b71d1642d4a86578c8a7fb6f4d\u0022\u003EScott Simpson\u003C/span\u003E: How does this very significant investment by the Government into science and research improve New Zealand\u2019s economic productivity and competitiveness?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224e6a4eab63804524b82f2df782cb2346\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: Science underpins the innovation required to increase the productivity of firms and create sustained, long-term GDP growth. As part of this year\u2019s science investment round we are providing grants to a range of areas, including, for example, research into combating the Psa bacterial disease in kiwifruit, enhancing the resilience of underground infrastructure in Christchurch, and clean-energy storage technology to assist the integration of renewable wind energy into the national grid. On Tuesday I released the Government\u2019s Building Innovation progress report, which lays out the science and innovation initiatives that build on our strength as a nation of innovators and scientists. This announcement today is another example of the Government\u2019s science and innovation policies in action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002268cc2bd34e304a52a9bb81d4dcc193ce\u0022\u003EHousing New Zealand Corporation\u2014Ministers\u2019 Statements\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u00222310a417d3ae4374ad0a48ba36e0c80d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222310a417d3ae4374ad0a48ba36e0c80d\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Labour\u2014Rongotai)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Housing: Does he stand by all his answers to parliamentary questions; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022 data-id=\u002206eb6f04d7a84d4897171cc7db9c9a25\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002206eb6f04d7a84d4897171cc7db9c9a25\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY (Minister of Housing):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, as long as they are taken in context.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289b960b5184e44218c010c21c30f7ab8\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: Does he stand by his statement made recently in Parliament that Housing New Zealand Corporation tenancy managers \u201Cwill have a laptop. They will no longer be stuck behind a desk in an office, using a whiteboard. We are moving to modern technology,\u201D; if so, when was he informed that tenancy officers have never had laptops, will not be getting laptops, and the so-called modern technology they have got is a cellphone that is not fit for purpose?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e29cb11d3266472ba8d9910b3b32e6dd\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY\u003C/span\u003E: I am surprised that the member has got it wrong again. First of all, for the first part of the question, the Hansard will say \u201Cthe changes we are making\u201D, the \u201Ctenancy managers will spend\u201D, \u201CThey will have\u201D, \u201CThey will no longer be stuck behind a desk\u201D, and \u201CWe are moving to\u201D new technology. So clearly it is fairly future-focused. That is the first thing. The second thing the member says is that tenancy managers have never used laptops. Actually, in Christchurch after the earthquakes tenancy managers, when they were out and about, did use laptops. But can I say to the member if she could just stop making things up\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022068d6827f2874b2f99dcd8474da920ea\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022999fd178b8b44d17bb3088ad67886b67\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Would it be appropriate for the Minister to table what he was quoting from, because he missed out the fact that he used the word\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245205a3f43274fc482c34d57d1154b02\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] No, no. Order! The member must resume her seat. The member, if I understood him correctly, was quoting from his Hansard, and that is already available. So it is all available for members anyhow, so we will not be tabling that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226fbd32e99e4346bd819a7932ca987c03\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can you confirm that the uncorrected Hansard is also available to members, because there could well be a difference here between what the member said and what he said he said?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8f81868f90e410cb4f8c9357bed7beb\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! [Interruption] Order! Since when did members not understand this is a point of order. Both the uncorrected and the corrected are available. And I must say to the member asking the question that if the Minister\u2019s answer missed out a bit she believed should have been in it, that is obviously the next supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022502d0b146be448fe844b61b0a1adfaa8\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can the Speaker further confirm from, I think, the Prebble case, dealt with by a Speaker, that it is a breach of privilege to significantly change one\u2019s Hansard to take out a vital fact?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002291d0b733a15d43aca3508d07c6d43afe\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY\u003C/span\u003E: What the member\u2019s allegations are\u2014and I think journalists and members can test this by looking at the Hansard\u2014is that I would have had to have changed these words: \u201Care making\u201D\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e32a101f1b14039a980254ad2536505\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No. Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat. None of this stuff should be being dealt with by way of point of order. The Minister has the chance to answer further questions, the member has the chance to ask further questions, and that is the way this matter should be dealt with. The member asked a question. The Minister answered it. The member believed that he had left a bit out that, in her view, should have been in the answer. That is an opportunity for further supplementary questions to chase that up to see whether that was the matter. So I invite the Hon Annette King to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef73ab59504b47dab1dd0e12421bbeba\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: Does he consider, after the promises he made in Opposition and his undivided attention to the housing portfolio to improve the quality of State houses, that some State houses are now just \u201Cin a serious state of repair\u201D, as he claimed on 2 August this year; or is the Government the biggest slum landlord in the country?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022efd57f8c11c14e72835e3e29d27f8f6d\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY\u003C/span\u003E: I have made it clear in Opposition, and, certainly, coming into Government, since I got the briefing as incoming Minister twice\u2014actually three times\u2014and other documents, that there is a large amount of the State housing stock that is in a serious state of disrepair. The most immediate thing we can do, clearly, is to insulate all State houses. I do not know why they were not done historically, in the last 10 years, but we will be insulating every State house by the end of next year. But there is still an awful lot of work to do to get State housing up to a decent standard. We think we should not just look at those on the waiting list and be concerned about them, but also those who are in State houses should be living in decent conditions, and we are working on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022974ac9deef4a42a38f065757d3807123\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: What was his reaction to the Minister of Finance, Bill English, calling the Government \u201Cthe biggest slum landlord in the country by a long-shot\u201D just yesterday, therefore making him, as the Minister of State housing, the principal slum landlord; and how does this label stack up against his claim that he has \u201Calways suspected\u201D that he was \u201Ca very effective member\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022843f74f9d0d04b44b247ff93b0908f65\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY\u003C/span\u003E: I have said ad infinitum for 4 years that the State housing stock is in a serious state of disrepair, that, in fact, you know, it took a decade to deteriorate and we are repairing it. But can I just say this. You know, the easiest thing you could do is insulate the State houses. They were not insulated in a decade. We are going to finish insulating by the end of next year, and that is a great thing. I am not denying it is in a state of serious disrepair. We have got to get on and do it. One more thing: every time we bowl a State house to rebuild, kick out a gang member, or whatever, those opposite complain. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f6029e3d6474578a7bc71fe373125bc\u0022\u003EHon Annette King\u003C/span\u003E: When Bill English said yesterday the Government was looking for \u201Cviable capital recycling models\u201D to deliver more efficient State housing, is he indicating floating Housing New Zealand Corporation on the stock market so that we can all become slum landlord millionaires?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cbb83aab-9566-44c4-9029-8bda4aaca7f2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ffb34d508ebf4565a1d4b60257871880\u0022\u003EHon PHIL HEATLEY\u003C/span\u003E: That is a very complicated way of looking at what Bill English meant. What I think he meant, though, on the face of it, is this: he thinks it would be a really good idea if we sold and bowled the old, crappy ones and built some new ones for our tenants. Personally, I think that is a really good idea.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b337517a2ddc41218d8cdb4bfef90ecf\u0022\u003EAgricultural Vehicles\u2014Review of Rules\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022 data-id=\u00226aedb8d25b3740209ae8a6dc3550358e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226aedb8d25b3740209ae8a6dc3550358e\u0022\u003EIAN McKELVIE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Transport: What progress is being made on the Government review into transport rules affecting agricultural vehicles?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u0022f40cb501e2f54f2c9b953493e6b0fbe0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f40cb501e2f54f2c9b953493e6b0fbe0\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister of Transport):\u003C/span\u003E Earlier this month I announced changes to simplify the rules for the use of New Zealand\u2019s 40,000 agricultural vehicles. This followed a review and widespread consultation in response to concerns that the current laws do not take into account the special nature of agricultural vehicles or the demands of agricultural production. The proposed changes will improve compliance and provide greater operational flexibility for this important sector.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002292593c09b3fc49e2ad32fa7859d0554c\u0022\u003EIan McKelvie\u003C/span\u003E: What are some of the key changes?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3485490691d433d93b790e6ee502cbb\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES\u003C/span\u003E: Well, there are many. The changes establish a two-tier system for agricultural vehicles based on a 40-kilometre-an-hour operating speed. Vehicles operating below this speed will be exempt from a warrant of fitness and work-time requirements. In addition, a new licence endorsement will allow car licence holders to drive a greater range of agricultural vehicles once they prove that they have the skills to do so. Of course, safety remains an important factor. The changes proposed require agricultural vehicles to use a flashing amber beacon to alert road users.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d1334ff055e841bbafd6170f063f1d83\u0022\u003EMr SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Question No. 10, Eugenie Sage. [Interruption] I say to the Labour benches on this occasion to please show some courtesy to a member at the back. I have called Eugenie Sage.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022afef49091eeb4b72990b16fb3663136a\u0022\u003EConservation Land\u2014Fiordland Monorail Proposal\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022 data-id=\u00222c3e3ea2802d450da3c5e6e6c67e76f7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222c3e3ea2802d450da3c5e6e6c67e76f7\u0022\u003EEUGENIE SAGE (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Conservation: Is the financial viability of an applicant company a factor in the consideration of concession applications on conservation land; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022 data-id=\u0022f29c26b525bc4b4cb403931db7cc21c1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f29c26b525bc4b4cb403931db7cc21c1\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Economic Development)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Conservation: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224d9ed46a2ff94c0e8c9c118e7ecbc7d8\u0022\u003EEugenie Sage\u003C/span\u003E: Has the department sought a financial feasibility report from Fiordland monorail promoters Riverstone Holdings Ltd as part of its consideration of the company\u2019s concession application; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259d3c0d3c0654050a54013c95eeed4eb\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: The department is, obviously, working on a range of information in terms of this application. Obviously, as I have already said in answer to the primary question, the financial viability is a consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002235007040108f4376bd5eca6c4755da3d\u0022\u003EEugenie Sage\u003C/span\u003E: Does the fact that two of the three directors of the monorail company are also the directors of Pegasus Town Ltd, which failed and went into receivership last week, encourage the Minister to ensure that there is full financial disclosure by the company promoting the $175 million monorail proposal?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b1ad4d6e70247e8abcdd76bf0b5016b\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: As I have said at the outset, the financial viability of a company is a consideration in all concession applications on conservation land. I am sure all relevant matters will be considered in what is a statutory process.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e122e0e6-61c6-4d17-9a79-6ad2ac7d127e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220fc6d71cd6044b1c9559b4dfaf23639b\u0022\u003EEugenie Sage\u003C/span\u003E: Given that the proposed monorail would involve felling and clearing more than 25,000 trees and undertaking significant earthworks in a World Heritage area, does the Minister accept that there are significant risks to conservation values if the application is approved and the company subsequently abandons it because of financial difficulties?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226038b62f01684c1c8f41806f3d23f93e\u0022\u003EHon STEVEN JOYCE\u003C/span\u003E: I think the member is well ahead of herself. There is a concession process, obviously, under way to consider it at the moment. There is also a subsequent Resource Management Act process. So we will be getting a fair way down the track before we will be dealing with the issues the member mentions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226f27373dc5cd41da9718200ae79c834f\u0022\u003EWelfare Reforms\u2014Effect of Future Focus\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022 data-id=\u00220a3338569ed9441b97702a82f4ef2b0d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220a3338569ed9441b97702a82f4ef2b0d\u0022\u003EMELISSA LEE (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development: What impact have the Government\u2019s Future Focus welfare reforms had to date?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022 data-id=\u00225bd5e9b6741c4b20a84af3b41c1ad6e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225bd5e9b6741c4b20a84af3b41c1ad6e3\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development):\u003C/span\u003E Under the Government\u2019s 2010 Future Focus welfare reforms, we introduced a new obligation requiring those receiving an unemployment benefit to reapply after a year. Since these changes 62,178 people have gone through the reapplication process, and as a result 15,768 people did not reapply during that process. This simple renewal request has saved well over $29.5 million in benefit expenditure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267ccfd8f0e464fc7a0e17b46867010ea\u0022\u003EMelissa Lee\u003C/span\u003E: How have these changes supported more sole parents into work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eeb0112f600f4ad5ba2548d07ea1a912\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: As part of those changes we also introduced a part-time work obligation for sole parents with children over 6 years old, which means we were actively working with around 6,000 sole parents each month. As a result we have seen a greater proportion move into part-time work. Compared with 2 years ago, the number of sole parents in part-time work has increased by nearly 2,000 to 16,300.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002218f9e3ea-81c5-4414-af48-d6bb843a9227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223c5b1d14dca44182b6a4b1f40d819404\u0022\u003EMelissa Lee\u003C/span\u003E: What reports has she seen that show support for the Government\u2019s welfare reforms?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227d4e816727bb4afe9b827708cac7c38d\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: I have seen a number of reports, as you can imagine. One is that \u201CIt is wrong to tax a working person almost to breaking point, then give it to a person who is able to work but refuses to.\u201D That is on the Facebook page of the member for Hutt South. I note that they also have support from the leader of the Labour Party. I have seen a report there that says he has \u201Clittle tolerance for people who don\u2019t pull their weight.\u201D I welcome those members\u2019 support for Government welfare reforms.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cb10bf5018d2424eba1f3255d10dd51f\u0022\u003EMaternity Services\u2014Performance\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022 data-id=\u0022482dde50790643b49107c1c4a4e31150\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022482dde50790643b49107c1c4a4e31150\u0022\u003EBARBARA STEWART (NZ First)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Is he satisfied that New Zealand\u2019s maternity services are meeting all the needs of pregnant women in New Zealand; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002260200136-9d63-4a82-b4f5-c00411adb1fd\u0022 data-id=\u00226df31439686b417687e40b344c636866\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002260200136-9d63-4a82-b4f5-c00411adb1fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226df31439686b417687e40b344c636866\u0022\u003EHon JO GOODHEW (Associate Minister of Health) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Minister of Health: It is important to state that the phrase \u201Cmeeting all the needs\u201D sets a very broad parameter. There is no definitive list of needs. What I can, however, say is that New Zealand has a world-class maternity system, but we can always do better. From time to time service to an individual may fall short of that required, sometimes with tragic consequences. That is why doctors, midwives, nurses, and other health professionals across all 20 district health boards are now all working together for the first time ever on the national maternity quality and safety programme. We want the best possible services to protect the safety of mothers and babies. That is why the National Government has invested $114 million over the last 4 years in improving safety and quality.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022340cfff295ea4c10b8bacc971a6da856\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: How can he be satisfied with maternity services, when there were 21 infant deaths in 2010 where midwives failed to follow best-practice guidelines, including the case about which Hastings coroner Chris Devonport last Thursday said texting was an inappropriate way for midwives to complete clinical assessments, and which resulted in the death of a baby boy last June?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002260200136-9d63-4a82-b4f5-c00411adb1fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc28ea16565441188d2aa29b7f60a277\u0022\u003EHon JO GOODHEW\u003C/span\u003E: Each tragic circumstance is reviewed. Each tragic circumstance where a mother or a baby dies gives the opportunity for the individuals involved to learn from the review process. Ideally, these tragic circumstances would never happen, but the national maternity quality and safety programme gives us a new opportunity to not wait for tragic circumstances to actually move forward and improve the quality and safety of the care that is provided to mothers and babies in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224fa8d3ade3864c319ab975154d0321a3\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: Is he aware that 96 to 98 percent of midwife graduates undertake the additional Midwifery First Year of Practice programme; if so, will he make completion of this programme compulsory to ensure some consistency across the sector?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002260200136-9d63-4a82-b4f5-c00411adb1fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295f14bcb9560482785cf53d011228ce0\u0022\u003EHon JO GOODHEW\u003C/span\u003E: I am afraid that I am unable to answer that question, given that I have not been briefed on the hypothetical question going to the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022210ddc3510d149b9b4646779d8a02acf\u0022\u003EClimate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002297b6e17c99454b16b532c1e0ca8154b4\u0022\u003EFirst Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022 data-id=\u00221dab0443507d41c4af84131b081c23b4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221dab0443507d41c4af84131b081c23b4\u0022\u003EHon TIM GROSER (Minister for Climate Change Issues):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Finance and Expenditure Committee to consider the bill. At the appropriate time I intend to move that the bill be reported to the House by 17 October 2012, and that the committee have the authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting, except during oral questions, during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, and on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270fa4cbd-9380-4916-9f2a-78da059d220e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bb2e545301444fa96b822e0917bf89d\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Would members leaving the Chamber please show some courtesy to the member trying to address the business of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2893cfefa5240318cf6be6f0905be66\u0022\u003EHon TIM GROSER\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014thank you, Mr Speaker\u2014and to meet outside the Wellington region during a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 188, 190, and 191(1)(b) and (c). \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EThe Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill includes major amendments to the New Zealand emissions trading scheme that the Government intends to make in response to the recommendations of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme Review Panel in 2011, as well as international developments, and a number of technical and minor amendments that aim to improve the operational effectiveness of the emissions trading scheme. Although the Government has chosen not to implement all of the recommendations of the review panel, I do want to acknowledge the considerable work of the panel in framing the issues in a way that has helped the Government address the issues in question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EThis bill will ensure that the emissions trading scheme effectively supports the Government\u2019s economic growth priorities by keeping carbon costs at a level that is appropriate in the light of the current economic climate and other countries\u2019 climate change actions. The amendments will mitigate the short-term costs for businesses and households, and will ensure that the emissions trading scheme is flexible enough to cater for a range of future international scenarios. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003ELet me briefly examine and outline the major changes to the bill. Existing transitional measures reducing the impact of the emissions trading scheme on households and businesses will be extended beyond 2012 without an end date, subject to a review in 2015. This will facilitate New Zealand\u2019s ongoing economic recovery by ensuring that there will not be significant increases to emissions trading scheme - related costs for businesses and households until at least 2015. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EThe entry date for surrender obligations for biological emissions for agriculture will be deferred and will not be specified in primary legislation. The Government\u2019s current intention is to re-examine in 2015 the entry date for surrender obligations for biological emissions from agriculture and the continuation of the transition phase. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EThe bill introduces offsetting for pre-1990 forestry in the emissions trading scheme. This will give owners of pre-1990 forest land more flexibility. This bill also introduces a power to allow auctioning within an overall cap on the supply of New Zealand Units\u2014NZUs. Auctioning will mitigate the risk that New Zealand businesses would buy too many international units, and will give emissions trading scheme participants more certainty about supply of units in the scheme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EThis bill makes a number of technical changes so that the scheme is more workable and flexible. For example, it improves the current treatment of the synthetic greenhouse gases sector in the emissions trading scheme. Equally, it removes deforestation liabilities where forest land cannot be re-established because a natural event prevents it. Some of these technical changes will also address issues arising from the interaction between the emissions trading scheme, multiple-owned M\u0101ori land, and the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act 1993. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EBecause of the complex nature of the emissions trading scheme, a couple of technical issues have arisen subsequent to consultations, which we believe do merit further consideration at the Finance and Expenditure Committee. The first relates to the very detailed and complex offsetting rules around pre-1990 forestry. The second relates to the Crown\u2019s ability to manage its Kyoto Protocol obligation for the first commitment period. Further amendments to the Climate Change Response Act may be necessary to ensure that the Act can be certain to meet its first commitment period obligation in an efficient and effective manner by setting aside emission units required for that obligation now. If the committee considers that these issues do need to be addressed, then it may wish to make recommendations on the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003EIn conclusion, this bill will keep carbon costs in New Zealand at a level similar to the current level, which is appropriate in terms of the current economic climate and international progress. It will make sure that our businesses remain internationally competitive and that households are not weighed down by rising costs. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022 data-id=\u0022969aec4a533b49cd8bf0de5e6ef9ad57\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022969aec4a533b49cd8bf0de5e6ef9ad57\u0022\u003EMOANA MACKEY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I think the Minister has forgotten why we are doing all this. He has talked a lot about carbon costs and the cost to business and a lot about the cost to industry. He has not talked at all about the cost to the environment and the cost to our planet of doing nothing. I think that the Government has completely forgotten why we have an emissions trading scheme in the first place. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EFrankly, if this is the kind of legislation that we are going to be passing in this House we might as well get rid of it\u2014because we do not have an emissions trading scheme. The emissions trading scheme we have in place is \u201Call sectors, all gases\u201D. That is how it was designed. It does not work if all sectors and all gases are not in the scheme, and when 50 percent of this country\u2019s emissions, which come from the agricultural sector, are excluded from the scheme it simply does not work. We are seeing the impact in the forestry sector at the moment. We have a lot of carbon foresters who would like to be able to sell the units they get from growing their forests to someone, but half of the country\u2019s emitters are not in the scheme. So the market for their credits is not there. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EWe are going to be facing massive liabilities in the future when, I believe, there will be a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. When that will be I do not know, and I know that the Minister is part of those negotiations and has a decision to make very shortly as to whether we enter into the European second commitment period or whether we enter into a voluntary period with non-binding targets. That is a decision the Government has to make and we await that decision with bated breath. But the fact is that if we are not going to do this properly, then why are we putting everyone through the pain of doing it at all? This further undermines the scheme that Labour put in place when we were in Government. It further undermines any efforts\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a25943b-cb3b-49c3-bd10-74316fae17f1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8b467a057af4767aec183335cb5cc8b\u0022\u003EJacqui Dean\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3edcf600bbd4f3ea85fec9ae550d138\u0022\u003EMOANA MACKEY\u003C/span\u003E: Jacqui Dean is really pleased that we are not doing anything about climate change. She is really pleased that we are not taking our climate change commitments seriously. Does Jacqui Dean realise how much exporters in her electorate rely on our \u201Cclean, green\u201D branding? Does she realise the value of that branding to this country? If she does, then she should be very concerned about legislation like this added on top of a pile of policies that are consistently undermining the very branding that we rely on to remain internationally competitive, as the Minister said in the first place.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E That is one of my biggest concerns about this Government and about this piece of legislation. It is the \u201Csay one thing, do another\u201D approach of the National Government. Government members go out there and they tout our \u201Cclean, green\u201D and \u201C100% Pure New Zealand\u201D credentials. John Key, when he went on HARDtalk on the BBC when he was in the UK, got absolutely done over when some actual hard investigative journalistic questions were put to him about just how clean and green New Zealand really is\u2014about just how clean and green New Zealand really is\u2014and he could not answer the questions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003ELabour members say we should actually start walking the talk and living that brand, rather than just paying lip-service to it, which is what the National Government is doing\u2014which is what the National Government is doing. It has relied on an economic downturn to provide a reduction in the growth in emissions, but our emissions have continued to grow. When Minister Groser was asked at the Local Government and Environment Committee when New Zealand\u2019s gross greenhouse gas emissions were projected to peak, he did not know. He had to come back to us, and the answer was never\u2014the answer was never. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003ESo instead of actually having a scheme in place that starts to reduce our gross greenhouse gas emissions, we do not. We have one that is going to allow them to continue to grow, and is not putting any carbon price at all on the very people we want to drive that behaviour change\u2014the very people we want to drive the behaviour change that we need if we are going to, one, actually take our commitments seriously internationally in terms of global climate change, and, two, protect the very brand that has been built up over decades. I will tell you what: reputations are hard-earned, but they are very, very quickly lost. This National Government, with its single-minded focus on oil and gas exploration whilst putting in no support for low-carbon or renewable technologies, now with pieces of legislation like this is doing a very good job of undermining our brand, which is so important to our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EI want to give an example of the kind of \u201Cdo as I say, not as I do\u201D contradictory statements that we are getting out of the National Government. Minister Groser is very, very keen on promoting his involvement in the scheme of a group called the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform. This is a group that has very, very laudable objectives, which are to go around this country and to talk to countries that have subsidies in place for high-carbon industries and for fossil fuels about the benefits of getting rid of those subsidies, which are often costly to the Governments that provide them and also very, very costly to the environment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EIf you go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, there is a whole page on this particular scheme. It is all very grandiose, it has got quotes in big fonts, and it is on a very appropriately environmentally friendly green background. The quote from Minister Groser is this: \u201CIt is completely incoherent for the world to be tentatively coordinating actions to put a price on carbon, while simultaneously massively subsidising consumption of carbon\u201D. Agreed. It is a very good quote. So why, then, Minister, are you introducing a piece of legislation into the House that entrenches for perpetuity, for ever, subsidies that come from emitters of carbon? We have this one-for-two surrender obligation, which the Government put in place after the last election, where basically for every 2 tonnes that are emitted, the emitters have to surrender only one unit instead of two\u2014so that has halved their costs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E The review panel, which the Minister referred to, said that that should be phased out and gotten rid of because it is expensive. Instead of doing that, the Minister, who goes around the world telling other countries that we should not have these subsidies, has just entrenched them in legislation for ever\u2014for ever. It says \u201Cmaintain the 1-for-2 surrender obligation after 2012, without specifying an end date in legislation:\u201D. Not only that but also the Government subsidises and has tax credits for oil and gas exploration, for people who want to engage in that activity. As I said, there is nothing for those who work in the renewables area, in terms of that kind of assistance. Again, how can the Minister hold his head up high and go preaching to other countries that they should get rid of subsidies for fossil fuel extraction and for fossil fuel subsidisation, when we are doing exactly the same thing in New Zealand? It is this kind of activity, it this kind of contradictory behaviour, that does New Zealand no favours on the international stage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EI have talked to a number of people recently who have said that New Zealand\u2019s standing internationally has declined dramatically since this Government took over, and that is something we should be concerned about. National used to accuse us when we were in Government of being world leaders in climate change. We thought, yes, we were trying to take a stand and that we were trying to be principled on this. John Key, when he was elected, said: \u201CWe are not going to be world leaders, but let us be fast followers.\u201D He said we will be fast followers instead. Well, what we have actually become is apathetic spectators\u2014that is what we are. We are standing on the sideline, waiting for Australia to do something, so then we might or might not decide what to do. And it has been noticed that for New Zealand, the clean, green country at the bottom of the world, which people respect and look up to internationally, our reputation is in sharp, sharp decline. Members of this House should not be in any doubt about how dangerous that is to our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EI want to come back to the issue of agriculture. The Minister could have done something very simple. If the issue with agriculture is price, the cost to farmers, and not the principle of bringing agriculture into the scheme, which is what we are always told, then he should bring them in but not put any price obligation on them. Bring them into the scheme so that they are in the scheme and they know that in the future they will face a price cost. Why can they not come in? The Government can subsidise them 100 percent if that is what it decides. We would not agree with that, but that is what it could do. I remember that back in 2009, John Key was telling the agricultural sector that it had to come into the scheme or risk the loss of export markets. He was quite adamant. He said that the cost to agriculture would be about $300,000 a year, and that was when the carbon price was much higher. It is very low now. The cost would actually be minimal to bring some of these people in. You could argue that this is a good time to bring people in, if they are worried about the cost. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EI want to raise one very important point, which is that I do not think you will find a single farmer who will say that getting rid of the subsidies in the 1980s was a bad idea. They hated it at the time. They absolutely hated it, but they had to then become innovative and responsive. They had to respond to market signals. They had to respond to consumer demands. They had to be aware internationally of what was going on. That is what has made our farmers the best in the world. That is what has made them the most innovative. They have not been shielded from these kinds of market signals. So I am stunned as to why the agricultural sector and the National Government would now argue that we should bring back subsidies, that we should now blunt those market signals, and that we should now shield the agricultural sector from the very signals that in the past it has responded to phenomenally, which has made it the greatest farming industry in the world. I would like an answer to that question from the next National speaker. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022 data-id=\u0022ccd5ec03ab3c40169996886d21fb7e4d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ccd5ec03ab3c40169996886d21fb7e4d\u0022\u003EHon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues):\u003C/span\u003E I would like to endorse the points made by the Minister for Climate Change Issues in his speech. National is committed to creating a cleaner, greener, brighter future for all New Zealanders. National believes that New Zealand, as a responsible international citizen, must do its fair share and act to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe emissions trading scheme is driving investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and tree planting. By maintaining incentives to reducing emissions, without loading costs on households and businesses, our emissions trading scheme is helping to contribute to a stronger and more productive economy. These changes reflect the balanced approach the National-led Government is taking towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of these changes is to maintain the costs that the emissions trading scheme places on the economy at current levels. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill also makes a number of changes designed to improve the operation of the emissions trading scheme. This will provide more flexibility and ensure that the scheme is fit for purpose after 2012. As outlined by the Minister, the main provisions of this bill include keeping the one-for-two obligation in place until after this year. This means participants in this scheme will continue to surrender units for half the carbon they emit. Other provisions include maintaining the $25 fixed price option until at least 2015, which caps the price firms will face if carbon prices begin to rise internationally; introducing offsetting for pre-1990 forest land owners; and allocating the full second tranche of compensation where offsetting is not taken. We are leaving agricultural emissions out of the emissions trading scheme until at least 2015, and reviewing the emissions trading scheme in 2015. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EThe bill provides much greater certainty for businesses. This is important because of the challenges the global economy continues to face, and the range of possible international climate change frameworks. The bill provides certainty to businesses in three key ways. Firstly, businesses will not face additional costs due to the continuation of the transition phase measures. Secondly, businesses will continue to be able to meet the emissions trading scheme obligations by surrendering international units. This will mean the price of domestic emission units will continue to reflect the prevailing price of international units. Thirdly, the amendments ensure that future reviews of the emissions trading scheme happen only as and when necessary. This should also reduce the concerns about emissions trading scheme review fatigue that have been expressed by some. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003EI commend the work and leadership of Minister Groser on what is a balanced and responsible approach. This Government is not willing to heap further costs on households and businesses, but we are committed to doing our fair share.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022 data-id=\u0022b3b43ef3266d4a0d88c7d2d398efe892\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b3b43ef3266d4a0d88c7d2d398efe892\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON (Labour\u2014Wellington Central):\u003C/span\u003E That last speech came from Mr Bridges, who I think is probably stronger when he is doing agricultural vehicles. I think he is probably stronger when he is talking about them. To finish his speech by talking about a fair system and a system that is going to help New Zealand\u2019s reputation is unbelievable coming from that Minister. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EI want to start my contribution by referring to the climate change issues Minister\u2019s announcement during his speech that the report-back date for this bill is to be 17 October\u201417 October. That is just how seriously the Government treats this issue and the views of New Zealanders and the people who will be affected by the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill\u2014rush it through, get it back here on 17 October, and not have a proper select committee process, a proper analysis, a proper opportunity for New Zealanders to comment on this. The Government is doing that because the transitional period runs out\u2014December is coming upon us\u2014and there need to be decisions made. That is the fault of this Government. That is the fault of this Government for not getting this legislation to the House earlier to allow a proper process, so that people can actually\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002253f86481-33c1-48b2-893b-c11cc0bd673d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb2dae19dd894eca89752b88dff41d89\u0022\u003EPaul Goldsmith\u003C/span\u003E: So you want to take the farmers\u2019 prices they\u2019re paying, do you?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220c9d5944b2b24ba0be7a3bee9ea97456\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: What is that sorry, Mr Goldsmith? Oh! He suddenly is very quiet\u2014suddenly very quiet. He is suddenly very quiet because he knows that it is taxpayers in New Zealand who bear the brunt of the fact that polluters are let off the hook. Yes, right, the good people of Epsom are sitting there today knowing that Mr Goldsmith is prepared to subsidise polluters to carry on damaging New Zealand\u2019s reputation overseas, and ultimately making New Zealand taxpayers pay and be responsible, because the Government has mucked around and not put a bill in front of this House at the time that it should have. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003ENew Zealanders\u2019 integrity on the issue of climate change and on our clean, green image is built on the fact that we are prepared to do our bit and that we are prepared to stand up as a country for the environment. Our credibility on climate change comes from the fact that we have an all-sectors, all-gases scheme. Step by step, since this Government has come into office, it has put that idea on the back-burner, it has put that off, and we now have an emissions trading scheme that, as my colleague Moana Mackay has said, we may as well not have, under the conditions that this Government is creating. It is a market mechanism with 50 percent of the market not even showing up. It is a joke for this Government to even call this an emissions trading scheme when half the market is not even there to participate in it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EBut, moreover, there is the damage to our wider global brand. It is worth billions of dollars to New Zealand that we are seen as clean and green. We know that we can do better to meet the reality of that image in a number of sectors in a number of places in our country. But what we can definitely do globally is be able to say that we take our obligations seriously in the area of climate change. This Government is simply not doing that. What we have here is simply a delay into the never-never for two key elements of the emissions trading scheme. We have got the delay of the entry of agriculture. Let us be absolutely clear: this is not even a delay in the way that was recommended by the review panel. This is a delay indefinitely. There is no date set for the entry of agriculture into this scheme. So there goes the all-gases, all-sectors scheme in one hit. There is no date for agriculture\u2019s entry into this scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E As Moana Mackey said, when subsidies were taken off agriculture in the 1980s, it hurt rural New Zealand. It was an incredibly difficult time. The rural sector, the agricultural sector, responded by becoming the most efficient agricultural sector in the world. That is what we have now managed to create. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EWe now have this Government saying that we should keep those subsidies on, while parading Mr Groser around the world at all of the conferences he goes to, claiming that he is in some Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform group. I was actually very confused by that title, because I assumed that he was a friend of fossil fuels, but it turns out that the group actually has a different goal. But he is a friend of fossil fuels. What he is doing is subsidising now the polluters in New Zealand in a way that means New Zealand will be seen internationally as a friend of fossil fuels, not a friend of ending fossil fuels. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EIt is important to note that the extension of the one-for-two carbon credit subsidy really puts the nail in the coffin of New Zealand making an actual difference in the way that we reduce our carbon emissions. Let us be absolutely clear: for every one credit that is handed in, it counts as two. That is what happens here. So this bill does nothing to actually start reducing New Zealand\u2019s carbon emissions. And as my colleague Moana Mackey again said, Tim Groser, at the Local Government and Environment Committee, could not tell us when emissions would peak, and that is because they are not going to because there is no actual effort to do that. Climate change is not some abstract policy. Climate change is about the protection of our environment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EI think the leadership on this issue from John Key is something that we should look at, because he told farmers in 2009 that they needed to get into the scheme to be able to make sure that they could be internationally competitive. But I am not sure that he is totally committed to it. We have to remember that John Key named George W Bush and John Howard as his mentors on climate change. That is what he said. He named them as his mentors on climate change. He actually said in the House, admittedly before he became our Prime Minister, that \u201Ceven if one believes in global warming\u2014and I am somewhat suspicious of it \u2026 we will see billions and billions of dollars poured into fixing something that we are not even sure is a problem.\u201D That is what John Key told this House. So the Government is completely lacking leadership when it comes to the question of climate change. What Mr Key needs to face up to is that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change\u2014I think Mr Key might just call them \u201Csome scientists\u201D, and he can find another scientist, but I think the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has probably got something to say about this\u2014has told us that the probability that climate change is natural is less than 5 percent, world temperatures are going to rise between 1.1 degrees and 6.4 degrees during the 21st century, sea levels will rise by 18 centimetres to 59 centimetres, and the level of greenhouse gases is higher than it has ever been, due to mankind. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EClimate change is real. This bill tries to pretend that it is not. It tries to pretend that New Zealand can hide away from its responsibilities when it comes to addressing issues of climate change. But that has been the attitude of this Government from day one. The very first days that I spent in this House as an MP involved the National Government removing the Labour Party\u2019s ban on baseload thermal generation, removing the subsidy on biofuels\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022599686fb343d4d9eb7607f17310fe1c7\u0022\u003EMoana Mackey\u003C/span\u003E: No, the obligation on biofuels. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a647bc61de514090b91ebf9227e067dd\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The obligation, sorry, not the subsidy\u2014that is what they put in. It removed the obligation on biofuels, and subsequently in Budget after Budget it has not invested in public transport and not invested in schemes for clean energy. And in terms of the big drivers outside of agriculture in terms of energy and transport, not enough actual work is being done to say that we can reduce our emissions. So this Government is failing to introduce agriculture, as a sector, into this scheme and failing to undertake the work in the key areas of transport and energy that will actually make a difference to our emissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003EThis bill fails completely in terms of New Zealand\u2019s obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. But Mr Groser seems to think that we can simply sit back, and wait and see what happens at the international level. Once upon a time New Zealand was a leader in these things. I know how much Mr Groser likes to be a leader on the international stage. He loves it. He loves being in the green room, the white room, the blue room\u2014any room that is going on at an international negotiation\u2014and makes sure\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d52e59e3-2195-4c95-a654-665c11b39b63\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e7aeff6a6dc424a8e3c4dd0b1f15443\u0022\u003EHon Parekura Horomia\u003C/span\u003E: The bathroom. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226007dc96-f459-4cdd-9972-4fde2c994088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f899ce75094d4577ba1624f156c85dc4\u0022\u003EGRANT ROBERTSON\u003C/span\u003E: The bathroom, as Mr Horomia says\u2014any room that is going on at a negotiation. This is the opportunity and the chance for Mr Groser to be a leader on climate change. We want New Zealand to be a leader, because it supports our brand and it supports our exporters. We do not want to be a fast follower, and, far worse, we do not want to be the spectator that this Government is making us become on climate change. There is huge opportunity for New Zealand to show leadership here. There is huge opportunity for exporters if we do. There is huge opportunity for people creating and promoting new technologies inside New Zealand if we get on board with this, especially in the agriculture sector. This bill is a giant missed opportunity and a huge step backwards for New Zealand in terms of climate change and our clean, green image. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022 data-id=\u0022d9203b98b5bf42719db0e71ff83459a7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d9203b98b5bf42719db0e71ff83459a7\u0022\u003EDr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green):\u003C/span\u003E The Green Party will vote against this bill, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, on the grounds that it weakens an already weak emissions trading scheme to the point of irrelevance. The deliberate weakening of the emissions trading scheme reflects a fundamental misperception of the nature of the climate change challenge. The primary objective in the bill, as stated, is to \u201Censure that the emissions trading scheme more effectively supports the Government\u2019s economic growth priorities\u201D. This one sentence reveals the multiple errors in this Government\u2019s flawed world view. It subordinates climate change to economic growth. It reflects a 20th century understanding of economic integrity. It implies that economic growth is the principal criterion of the quality of life. It asserts a narrow and myopic view of the nature of climate change. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ETo appreciate the way in which this trader Government has proceeded down the wrong path, we need simply to have regard to the global context. Let us be clear. Climate change is not just another tough problem today and a potential crisis tomorrow. It is part of an ecological crisis today. It is the first of the nine planetary boundaries we must stay within if human civilisation is to continue to flourish. It is 20 years now since we agreed to avoid excessive carbon concentration in the atmosphere that would cause dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. It took 18 years to identify a 2-degree temperate rise and a 450-parts-per-million concentration as the limit for avoiding that danger. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThe global carbon budget for the climate boundary is 1,600 billion tonnes of net greenhouse gas emissions for the period 1990 to 2100. In 20 years we have used almost half of that. The remaining budget from now to 2100 is 870 billion tonnes, about one-third of the remaining fossil fuel reserves. We have to learn to say no to fossil fuel extraction. Such a global budget allows future annual global emissions of 9.5 billion tonnes. This is 20 percent of current emissions, so the global emissions reduction curve will need to be steep if we are to avoid dangerous climate change. This requires global emissions to peak before 2020, and to drop by 8 percent in 2020 and by some 56 percent by 2050. The developed countries\u2014the Global North\u2014are required now to reduce their national emissions by about 35 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThese are not matters of choice. This is not the stuff of currency speculation, dealing with toxic debt, or hedging risk through derivatives and futures trading. We do not hear breathless talk about such antics these days, yet the Government is still acting as if we have free choice over macroeconomic policy with the climate. This is not a matter of choice. Emissions reduction is an ecological imperative. Nature does not do deals, other than with itself, and certainly not with humanity. Nature is what it is. Human notions of choice will prove as ephemeral as a feather in an evolutionary storm if we court dangerous climate change, yet this is what we are doing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThe United Nations says the current global emission level of 48 billion tonnes needs to drop to 44 billion tonnes by 2020\u2014some say to 36 billion tonnes\u2014yet our voluntary pledges adopted at Cancun will see emissions rise to 50 billion tonnes, resulting in an emissions gap of 6 billion to 12 billion tonnes. Clearly, the international community is failing to prevent dangerous climate change. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ESo where does New Zealand stand? We are called upon to reduce national emissions by up to 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. What have we pledged? We have promised conditionally a mid-point of 15 percent by 2020 and 50 percent by 2050. It is simply not possible for New Zealand to achieve even these weak targets with the spineless market instrument it has fashioned for the purpose over these past 3 years. The 2020 mid-point of 15 percent means 51 million tonnes of net New Zealand emissions. The current projection for 2020 is 63 million tonnes, a reduction of 12 million tonnes within the next 8 years. For 2050, a 50 percent drop means 30 million tonnes, a reduction of 33 million tonnes from today. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThese are significant reductions, yet they are nothing compared with what is required for the 2-degree boundary. An 80 percent reduction by 2050 would mean a drop from 63 million tonnes to 13 million tonnes. How might we conceivably achieve this? Not by the 2008 Labour emissions trading scheme, not by the weakened 2009 National emissions trading scheme, and certainly not by this limp legislative construct masquerading as a model of responsibility and balance that is before us today. Today\u2019s bill will defer the inclusion of agriculture indefinitely, defer any increase in the price cap, defer the one-for-one surrender obligation, allow a greater switch from forestry to dairying, and enable importers to increasingly use dangerous synthetic gases. What remarkable, steel-like resolve! \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EWe need a Green plan for achieving the scale of reduction required. When National was busy moralising about the impossibility of achieving a 40 percent reduction by 2020, the Green Party was compiling a practical plan to do just that. The document, titled Getting There, identifies opportunities for reducing emissions across all sectors, in ways that transcend the emissions trading scheme. These supplementary measures include 5 million tonnes off electricity, 2 million tonnes off industrial and manufacturing fuels, 5 millions tonnes off transport, 3 million tonnes off agriculture, and 22 million tonnes through enhanced forestry sinks. All up, this totals 36 million tonnes taken off domestic emissions in 2020. The remaining 12 million tonnes required to reach the 40 percent reduction would be met through the purchase of international credits. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ENational has been disposed to cast aspersion on our plan. This absolves it, it believes, of the need to develop a plan itself. Others have queried some of the details. That is fine. No doubt the details can be refined; we are dialoguing with experts as we go. The point is that the Green Party alone in this House has the foresight and the gumption to draft an ambitious and positive plan. It is possible to develop a plan for New Zealand that would allow us to achieve the national reductions required to do our fair share in avoiding dangerous climate change. The Green Party has prepared a draft. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ENational complains about the inability of New Zealand to achieve deeper cuts. Its reasons are twofold: first, we have a large agricultural sector whose emissions are hard to reduce; second, we have a high renewable portion of our electricity. This ignores the fact that both arguments are accommodated in the Kyoto allocations, so there is a limit to how often we can unveil this monument to inaction. It ignores the fact that comparable countries like Sweden and Ireland have reduced agricultural emissions by 10 percent and 7 percent whereas New Zealand has increased them by 16 percent. Here we are, trumpeting our determination to help the rest of the world reduce agricultural emissions through the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. I have nothing against the global research alliance, just do not use it as a smokescreen for inaction on agricultural reductions here that can be achieved now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThe amount of cant that National has injected into the climate change methodology is breathtaking. The difference between National and Green climate policy is driven by different underlying perceptions. National calibrates its policy in light of what other countries are doing. The Green Party calibrates its policy in light of what the science indicates is necessary. National then shapes its policy as a mechanism for deferring what it terms a financial burden on selected economic sectors. The Green Party shapes its policy as a societal opportunity to move to a high tech, low carbon, green economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ENational sows fear and loathing about future emissions scenarios of the Global South, with no acknowledgment of a historical responsibility or per capita differential. The Green Party acknowledges both historical and future responsibility. It embraces the need for contraction and convergence, and for international equity, and thereby global legitimacy, to evolve. Above all, the Green Party adopts ecological economics in its approach to macroeconomic planning and climate policy. This is a qualitative change from the traditional neo-liberal economics of National. We embrace a different cognitive framework from that of National. We have a different world view, and thus, employing the same logical reasoning we are all endowed with, we emerge with different policies. We shall oppose this bill, and when in Government, we shall introduce a vastly different and more effective Green climate policy. There is something new under the sun. It is imperative that we act now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022 data-id=\u0022aee18fb632604983a369bbd1183e73b7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022aee18fb632604983a369bbd1183e73b7\u0022\u003EHon JOHN BANKS (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E Hello? Hello? Have you heard what I have just heard? I have never listened to so much claptrap in this Parliament since the last century, when there were not any Green Party members in this Parliament because they could not get elected to this Parliament in the last century. They are here in this Parliament because they are on a party list in this Parliament. That member we have just heard from, Dr Kennedy Graham, would never get elected anywhere. I challenge him to stand in Epsom in 2014 and take his chances. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EI think that this bill, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, should be changed to the \u201CClimate Change (Common-sense Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill\u201D. After listening carefully to the bogeyman tirade from that Green list member of Parliament I could be forgiven if I went to the 11th floor of Bowen House and opened the window. That is how bad it was. Even if the Green Party ever got its hands on the lever of power, New Zealand emits 0.2 percent of global emissions. Can the Minister for Climate Change Issues confirm that? We could not influence the climate one way, or even another. I say to the American list member for the Green Party that if the USA put as much effort into climate change as this common-sense piece of amendment legislation this afternoon does, the world would be a better place. Is that true, Minister? [Interruption] The Minister says that it is true. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EMost of the debate perpetrated by a Labour Government in a previous era and supported by New Zealand First\u2014supported by New Zealand First\u2014is humbug. That is why this Government has had to come in and tidy this up with an 80-page amendment bill that will minimise the worst costs of the emissions trading scheme on New Zealand families\u2014the worst costs of the emissions trading scheme on New Zealand families, New Zealand farmers, New Zealand mum and dad businesses, and the New Zealand economy. But it will have negligible effect on the environment\u2014negligible effect. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003ENot even the Greens campaigned in my electorate of Epsom on climate change in the election last year. The Green candidate whom the Green Party parachuted in from \u014Ct\u0101huhu or some other place did not ever raise climate change in any of the debates, because it was a dead duck issue in Epsom because the Epsom people know that most of the debate coming from the Greens is humbug. It is humbug. And the New Zealand First list MPs opposite\u2014none of them elected\u2014all those list MPs opposite, are responsible for this bill in the first place. Market research should tell the Labour Party and tell the Greens that this issue is a dead duck. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EI am pleased to be supporting the emissions trading scheme amendment bill, because the emissions trading scheme is a monstrosity. It is a monstrosity, given that New Zealand emits 0.2 percent of global emissions. Even if the Labour Party wanted to, with the support of New Zealand First and any of the others in this Parliament\u2014the bogeymen in this Parliament\u2014it could not influence international climate change anyway. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003ESo the conclusion is that the ACT Party supports this bill, at least to minimise the scheme\u2019s worst effects on New Zealand business and households. We owe a great deal of debt, do we not, National Party colleagues, to the Hon John Boscawen and his tireless push-back of these bogeymen opposite: the Greens, New Zealand First, and the Labour Party. I have got to say that in a perfect world we would not be wasting the time of this Parliament\u2014$6,000 a minute\u2014changing an Act that never should have been a statute, and that never should have existed. Even the American list member for the Green Party will tell you that if America wants to lead in this, let America do it. And to the co-leader of the Green Party, the Australian member, if Australia wants to do something, do something sensible. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EBut the scheme is costing small business, small families, people stretched for cash, and the economy a lot of money, and this bill ameliorates that, and the Government is to be congratulated. I congratulate the young Minister in charge of this bill on the work that he has done on this. He has steered a very careful course, and my advice to him in the early days was \u201CGet rid of the legislation, Minister, and do the country a favour.\u201D But given that that is not politically correct, even on the centre-right of politics in this country\u2014and I say to the leader of New Zealand First that I have learnt a few things since he wrote my first speech. But even if it did do something, this country cannot afford it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EI know that we are on the right track on this side of the House when there is howling and wailing from the Labour Party and from the Greens. Particularly when, before me, you heard that speech, which was better than Mogadon, from Dr Graham about what is going to happen and how the world is going to close in because of this bill. This bill is a recipe for common sense. The existing legislation should not exist in this economy at this time. We should be followers, not leaders\u2014followers, not leaders\u2014because it is too expensive for a country that is very stretched for cash. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EAnd so let us hear from the Labour Party members what they would do if they were on this side of the House to help small business, to help the current account, to help the tradable sector, and to help the farmers. Do they deny the farmers the help that they need to keep this economy flowing? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EWell, anyway, this is what I call the \u201CClimate Change (Common-sense Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill\u201D, which the ACT Party supports because it goes a little way to getting some common ground and common sense on this whole argument, laced in humbug and bogeymen, from the other side of Parliament. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u0022d2881bceddb7410a8cad471e3c5cba1a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d2881bceddb7410a8cad471e3c5cba1a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader\u2014NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Some people have 30 years of experience, and some people have 1 year\u2019s experience 30 times over. I will leave it to you to decide which category we just heard from John Banks. But where is this place called \u201COh-ta-huhu\u201D? You know, there is a suburb in Auckland called \u014Ct\u0101huhu, but it is not \u201COh-ta-huhu\u201D. After all this time, in 2012, we really should be doing better than that. I want to say that, whether a believer or a sceptic, what matters to New Zealand as an export-dependent nation is how the world sees us on this issue, and, more particularly, what our international customers\u2019 and markets\u2019 perceptions are of this country. That means an irrational response to international concerns could cost New Zealand dearly. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBut let us be honest. What you get in this Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, all 79 pages of it and its size and its complexity, leads you to conclude one word: Kafkaesque. This is the master of the absurd. Have a look at it\u201479 pages. This will keep an army of lawyers busy for years. Anybody in the legal profession or at Victoria University, Canterbury University, Auckland University, or Otago University law schools, be assured you have got a job, certainly, when you leave university, because if we have this sort of mishmash of nonsense, then it will be a lawyer\u2019s lifeline. Whether it will help stop climate change is entirely doubtful. You have heard about the law of unintended consequences, and that law of unintended consequences comes through on every page. Climate change is happening, it is a serious issue, and New Zealand First is not in denial about it, but all strategies to address the climate change issue must be practical, fair, clearly understandable, and comprehensive. This emissions trading scheme as amended here falls well short on every count. Trying to patch up the emissions trading scheme is not the answer to climate change. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWe maintain that the role of the State must be to strike a balance between economic progress and appropriate environmental goals. The climate change response debate is about where that balance should be and whether the emissions trading scheme is the best tool. Our policy, as we campaigned on with the last manifesto, is that we are against the emissions trading scheme in principle because it does not decrease emissions; it just moves them around to those economies that can afford to buy carbon credits. That is all it does. It does not decrease emissions; it just moves them around to those economies that can afford to buy more carbon credits. It is like making petrol more expensive instead of funding the technology to make cars that are more fuel-efficient, or making cars that do not use petrol in the first place. The emissions trading scheme devised by this Government is unsustainable. Adopting an approach of market forces on this issue will not work. The emissions trading scheme is just another tax on people and production. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EI want to ask my friends in the Green Party: why have you gone for a scheme where all the capitalists get to run the whole show? How foolish can you be\u2014to give it to a bunch of New York people to run. How silly is that? Will we be advantaged as a nation? No, we will not be. We do not subscribe to a Wall Street takeover of the environment and profiteering out of just one more distortion of market forces. Carbon credit banks that turn environmentalism into a speculative business is not the pathway for New Zealand. New Zealand First advocates that this serious issue be handled by Government and industry working together. Industry and agriculture would be far more cooperative with a fair domestic regulatory regime. Why are we paying a fortune to some other country? In this well-understood situation\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022565bb81661034d90a118ffd6bccf7c38\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: Are you going to support it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bca9a9980ce04cbe8e043057f954bcfd\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Look, we are not going to support what the ACT Party says. And fancy mentioning John Boscawen! Ha, ha! Boy, I have heard of a few John the Baptists, but not John Boscawen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBack to my point: in this well-understood situation, and with many sustainable energy sources being available, negotiated performance standards, Government-assisted research and development, and a carbon tax incentive to change are much better options than the uncontrolled financial machinations of an emissions trading scheme, where there will be no opportunity for a long-term plan of managed change and improvement. The bottom line is it is going to cost about $2 billion - plus. That can be much better used to pay and repay debt. We are in need of a national understanding of the importance of climate change, but we say to those sceptics and cynics, your customers will decide what you do. You can take the arrogant attitude and you can forget about it, but if your customers internationally say \u201CSorry, we won\u2019t deal with you.\u201D, then you will change overnight. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWe are against having a Wall Street - type of operation on this critical issue. It was all in the manifesto at the last election, and we did do\u2014what\u2014seven times better than the ACT Party, with no resources, no financial resources, and no man in a yellow jacket running around spending money like an eight-armed octopus. No, we did it all with a simple appeal to the ordinary people of this country, and if we had got a fair go, we would have hosed in. We all know that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d472e0f72eb4e1e9cca3f122ecaeabd\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: Where are the real members?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca66a7b170384a04b5d368b5241eff26\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Where are the real members? Well, I tell you what: we packed, in our opening, a hall of 800 people, and that party had a telephone booth for its launch. There were 800 at our meeting, and in its telephone booth\u2014in fact, it was a disgrace. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EI want to say something. One of the reasons that I personally pushed for and established the New Zealand embassy in Stockholm, Sweden, was that we have a lot to learn from the Scandinavians on these issues. They are light years ahead of us on the environment, and they are light years ahead of us in terms of economic performance. They have managed to do both, so I sought to establish a connection with the Scandinavian countries\u2014all the four successful ones: Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden\u2014in the biggest city there, in Stockholm, and there we got under way with a lot to learn from them, and now they have the Government keeping on saying \u201COh, look, Norway does this. Why don\u2019t you people agree with that?\u201D. But here is the point. In its petulance the Government shut it down\u2014just got in and shut it down, all of a sudden. Now it mentions Scandinavia, like any port in a storm, on the issue of development because it suits it. And Mr Groser will know full well that whilst he might be travelling around the embassies, they cannot wait to put arsenic in his tea, or in that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, because they are enraged at what is going on in that department. Scandinavian investment would have been very, very sound for this country, and when we get back, which will be very, very soon, we are going to re-establish the embassy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022caf9654fea564375a493684c48dcb0ce\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002264a0325091c24237bc73df59e72a2015\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, do not worry about that. I would not laugh. Mr Banks, the last person I would laugh at is New Zealand First, because our track record is to have been within one seat in nearly every election of either having the balance of power or holding the balance of power.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cc33fedfa33b45fbb532a79a35fccdcf\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019ve got the balance of power.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a222c34c10214b9d938c51fecc4a638a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Within one seat\u2014within one seat. No, no. Mr Banks says he has got the balance of power. Look, a bought man is never going to have any power. A bought man is always powerless. When John Key says: \u201CJump.\u201D, John Banks says: \u201CHow high?\u201D. Where is the power in that? Where is the power in that? No, there is no excitement-filled majesty. It has actually destroyed the steel and the spirit of that ACT Party. It is on a rollercoaster to oblivion. I am so sad that Mr Banks decided that it was a good idea to come back to this Parliament, because it must be oh, so lonely\u2014oh, so lonely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228c3edec98336445f9324d7efe2803316\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: The caucus meetings are easy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c3e9c589b6f64d6d9f2b16d4617d6de3\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Now some of us\u2014I know caucus meetings must be easy, but every now and again when you are rattling around the office all by yourself, you must think to yourself: \u201CWhat on earth did I ever do coming back here? First of all, I am a bought man; second, I\u2019ve got to do what I\u2019m told; and, third, I have nothing to contribute any more because nobody in the country is interested in what the ACT Party has got to say.\u201D On all three things\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220580871abb284f9a8fe6d8a4075db837\u0022\u003EHon John Banks\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m here to keep you there, Winston.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226d98904fc28e406590850007d7bd12ae\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014on all three things\u2014that is a sad indictment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBut back to my point on this legislation. We are against a scheme where the operators of New York can use a critical issue like the environment to their personal advantage. I know why the ACT Party would support it, I know why the National Party would support it, but I have got no idea why anyone on this side of the House would support that. There is one party in this Parliament that knows what is going on, and we have set our mind against this because it is against our national interests and it does not advance the cause that it seeks to address in the first place. Thank you very much.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022 data-id=\u0022176350cbd0f24822a8a19094924f5d1c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022176350cbd0f24822a8a19094924f5d1c\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson):\u003C/span\u003E The irony of that contribution from New Zealand First is extraordinary when we look at the Hansard in September 2008, in the dying days of the Labour Government\u2014and I see New Zealand First\u2019s new MPs are looking on in interest. I challenge them to read the Hansard in September 2008. Far from championing against international instruments for dealing with climate change, the only reason the emissions trading scheme made it on to the books of the New Zealand legislator was the five votes recorded by New Zealand First to back Helen Clark\u2019s bill at that time. That bill made broader instruments and had less control on international carbon units than the very bill we have before the House right now, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, which actually puts greater restrictions on the use of those. I can only conclude that Alzheimer\u2019s is taking hold far worse than I thought within the New Zealand First caucus, and I would just love Mr Peters to explain how it was that his decision to vote for that legislation was the only reason that an emission trading scheme made it on to the books. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EI also want to contrast the contribution that was made by Labour, because in the 9 years that Labour was in Government it campaigned on New Zealand becoming carbon-neutral. Remember the carbon-neutral speeches? Remember every single bit of rhetoric we got in the House? I just want\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a3bf1d8da9149b89c7957a6aa62b1f3\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: And there was a plan.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bb5eb37d5beb4a62a8b716a13089a10b\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Clark, I think, from Dunedin says there was a plan. Well, there might have been, but let us talk about the results. When Labour came into Government in 1999, New Zealand\u2019s emissions were 59 million tonnes per year. I would be interested to know how close it got to zero in its 9 years in Government. Well, it actually went from 59 million tonnes a year to over 70 million tonnes in its 9 years. In fact, the most interesting fact is this: New Zealand\u2019s emissions during Labour\u2019s years grew faster than those of any other OECD country. New Zealand\u2019s emissions under Labour\u2019s jurisdiction grew faster than those of any other developed country, and we on this side of the House will not take Labour seriously on climate change until we hear some apologies for its appalling track record. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe two factors that contribute to Labour\u2019s record have both been turned round by this Government. The first is that New Zealand has greater opportunities around renewable energy than any other country, yet during Labour\u2019s years, in each and every year, the proportion of our electricity that was produced by renewables dropped. I have to say I think this Government should be hugely encouraged that over our 4 years we have seen an increase in the proportion of renewables, and the figures that have just been published for 2011 show that it is at the highest level. For those who want to bag New Zealand\u2019s record, I say let us be proud of the fact that New Zealand has a higher proportion of renewable electricity\u2014levels that any European country would be jealous of\u2014with only one exception, and that is Iceland. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EThe second point that was absolutely tragic in the Labour years was the huge levels of deforestation. In Labour\u2019s years there was more deforestation than under any Government since the Great Depression\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225bbd9f26-fdb0-4b85-a836-0fc46e1bba3c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b3fd14e90ba4a58936df09d0af1f2c4\u0022\u003EDr David Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Before the emissions trading scheme.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c5822b10823494bb0beaf264318af20\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014more deforestation. We have turned that round. The deforestation has stopped. The New Zealand forest area is growing, and that can attributed to the sensible climate change policies that this Government has been adopting. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E I want to commend the work of Tim Groser. I say this quite honestly to members of the House: New Zealand has never had greater influence internationally around climate change negotiations than under Tim Groser\u2019s leadership. Anybody in this country who recognises that on this global environmental issue what New Zealand does is quite small should be hugely proud of the contribution that Tim is making to those international negotiations. I have been privileged to be at a couple of those with him. The way in which he has been successfully getting the big players\u2014the Indians, the Chinese, and the Americans\u2014to make progress on this issue is something that, frankly, every New Zealander should, and, certainly, members of this side of the House do, take pride in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003EOn this issue New Zealand needs to take a balanced approach. That is one in which we are doing our fair share as a country but one where we are also realistic about the sort of pressure business and households are under. This bill does that. I look forward to working on the Finance and Expenditure Committee to ensure the detail of this complex issue is worked through, but I cannot tolerate some of the double standards that we have seen from both Labour and New Zealand First members in this debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022 data-id=\u00225dd6499e65474c8f8f50da918c10f177\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225dd6499e65474c8f8f50da918c10f177\u0022\u003EDr MEGAN WOODS (Labour\u2014Wigram):\u003C/span\u003E I am happy to take a call on this Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. We have been sitting here on this side of the House hearing the members opposite chanting generic National Party lines about the brighter future and making business easier to do, and not a lot of substance on this bill, particularly from their second speaker, Simon Bridges. A lot of what we have heard today is, frankly, unbelievable, as my colleague Grant Robertson said. We have just heard from the last speaker, Nick Smith, about how emissions grew under Labour but shrank under National, and what a proud record National has in this area. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003ELet us actually look at this. Let us unpack this and let us look at some reality. What we have is an emissions trading scheme that Labour introduced at the end of its term, the bones of which National has been able to amend and reap the benefits of. But one of the real drivers of the drop in emissions under this Government is that this is a Government that has presided over a recession, and with a recession comes a drop in emissions. The members opposite should look to Russia. I know they have a problem with this part of the world\u2014Gerry Brownlee certainly does\u2014but they should look at Russia and the staggering drop in emissions that Russia has experienced, largely due to the fact that it is an economy in recession. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EBut this is a piece of legislation that is absolutely critical to us as a nation. It is a piece of legislation that is absolutely critical to our future, and I do not think it is being treated with the seriousness opposite that it deserves. This is a piece of legislation that is about New Zealand doing its bit as a global player and addressing one of the key issues of our time and of our generation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EWe have the member for Epsom opposite who tells us that New Zealand is but a tiny contributor to this world problem, and challenges other nations to do it. Well, I am proud to stand in this House as an heir to the tradition of a party that has seen itself as internationalist\u2014as a party that can make a difference. I look to forebears on this side of the House like Peter Fraser, who certainly did not think that New Zealand was too small to make a difference. Again we saw our last Labour Government realise that New Zealand could actually lead the world in this area. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EWhat we have had is the Hon Nick Smith telling us that New Zealand has never had a greater reputation internationally than under the leadership of Tim Groser. Well, actually, we are falling behind other nations. We are not a world leader. We are falling behind Australia, we are falling behind the Europeans, and we are no longer seen as someone who is leading the world, whereas we were proud of the legislation that we passed in 2008. That was legislation that was passed with the support of other parties in this House, like the Green Party. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EBut one of the other important things that we cannot decouple from our discussions around having an internationally regarded piece of legislation to reduce our emissions is its importance to our trade, and to our reputation, and to our ability to sell our products at a premium into global markets. Our environmental record and how we fit into the global environmental system is absolutely crucial to us as an exporting nation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EWe just need to look at the campaign that European supermarkets ran against New Zealand in terms of air miles to see what an impact that perceptions of New Zealand\u2019s ability to be an environmental player and to produce environmentally sustainable goods actually have. New Zealand had to put a lot of thinking and a lot of resource into countering this argument that a very cunning group of European supermarkets put together and came up with the idea of carbon miles. It actually was only because of our sustainable food production methods in this country that we could counter the air miles argument and we could protect our access into a number of key markets. We will continue to have access, we will continue to get premium, and we will be able to move beyond being a commodity producer only if we protect our reputation globally as a producer of clean and sustainably produced food. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003ELabour opposes this legislation for many reasons. One that we would like very much to address today, and my colleagues Moana Mackey and Grant Robertson have touched on it before me, is that this is rushed legislation. This was rushed to meet a December deadline, and, again, to quote Grant Robertson, that is unbelievable. There are significant changes that should be subject to proper scrutiny in this House. This is serious legislation and those changes should not be rushed through. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003ELabour also opposes this legislation because it simply will not work. We were told ad infinitum by the Hon John Banks that this was common-sense legislation. Well, I prefer not to take my scientific advice from a man who is pushing the teaching of creationism in our charter schools. But what I am also told and what I would like to remind that member is that his colleague John Boscawen and ACT actually voted against the National legislation, putting paid to a lot of what was contained in that member\u2019s speech. It was incomprehensible to us, because it just did not gel. But, actually, it fits with what we are seeing before this House, which is a whole lot of revisionist history from that side of the House. My colleague Moana Mackey would just like to assure the honourable member opposite that John Boscawen was actually a pleasure to work with in the last term when they worked on this legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EAll this piece of legislation does is chip away at legislation that was put in place. You know, it is kind of the back-door way of throwing the whole thing out, because it is going to be so meaningless. This is the obsession with tinkering that this Government has. Rather than fix something, it just tinkers a little bit around the edges, and does not actually confront any of the fundamental problems that are facing us as a nation. This achieves absolutely nothing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EBut what it does achieve, and what I am not looking forward to going back and telling the good people of Wigram\u2014and I am sure my colleagues, whether they be list or constituency MPs, are not looking forward to going back and telling the people who elected them\u2014is that, actually, they are going to be subsidising the polluters in this country. Taxpayers in this country are going to be shouldering the burden for reducing the cost of emissions from our polluters. That is not something that I am particularly comfortable about telling people with already stretched budgets in my electorate, and I look forward to a progress report from members opposite on how the people who elected them feel about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EAnother key thing that this bill does that is, in fact, dangerous is to reduce regulatory certainty. The flexible review positions that are contained in this bill do nothing to help business. It just creates a climate of uncertainty. Labour recognises that businesses need stability and certainty around their costs, and that they need to know what they are going to be facing as a cost of the emissions trading scheme. The ability contained within this bill to allow for not only a 5-yearly review but also an at-a-whim review does nothing to create that certainty. The Government really should have worked to find a bipartisan or a multipartisan agreement around this legislation and these changes. This is too important. This is something that we all need certainty on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EWhat we have talked about, and what I am going to address for the remainder of my speech, is the exclusion of agriculture and the fact that it should have an entry date. It is just ridiculous. It is just unfair to other industries that agriculture is getting the treatment within this bill that it does. What it does is leave other parts of our economy shouldering agriculture\u2019s share of the cost. We have a manufacturing sector at the moment that is bleeding jobs, but a Government that has no idea of the drivers of this. It has shown us in recent weeks in this House that it has absolutely no idea what is driving it, and this piece of legislation is only going to make it worse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002237a99b65-4919-4800-830d-3dd7c920d5cd\u0022\u003EIt is going to be damaging to the forestry industry and the jobs that are contained there. Forestry will be worse off as a result of this bill. There is a clawing back of the second tranche of compensation within\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226475fdfc6c3244f7838e21aff19f7110\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry to interrupt the honourable member. Her time has expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022 data-id=\u00225230eef067884cf38cca6da51700eb78\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225230eef067884cf38cca6da51700eb78\u0022\u003ETODD McCLAY (National\u2014Rotorua):\u003C/span\u003E The last member who was on her feet speaking, Megan Woods, has done more for global warming and increasing the temperature of the world through that speech than anybody else I know. You see, what we heard there was a lot of huff and a lot of puff. [Interruption] What was that member\u2019s name? It probably does not matter, because nobody is interested. Megan Woods said that it is OK to use the global financial crisis as a reason that emissions have dropped but it is not OK when one considers that GDP is down and recessions have been hitting different parts of the world. Far too much of that speech was in contradiction with what is important to New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EI want to commend our Minister for Climate Change Issues, Tim Groser, for bringing a responsible piece of legislation to this House. The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill is responsible because it does our fair share on behalf of New Zealand but it keeps down costs on New Zealand consumers, on New Zealand businesses, and on New Zealand mums and dads. You see, it is a responsible piece of legislation from a responsible Minister who is committed to a cleaner, greener, brighter future for all New Zealanders, and again I commend him for bringing this bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EIt was interesting to hear the honourable member John Banks speak earlier. He spoke of the confused position of the Green Party. He also told us that New Zealand\u2019s emissions are 0.2 percent of the world\u2019s emissions\u20140.2 percent of the world\u2019s emissions. He mentioned the Australian member of the Green Party, and that if Australia did more it would have a greater effect than anything that that party suggests New Zealand should do. He spoke of the American member of the Green Party, and that if America did its bit, it would achieve more than anything that that party suggests New Zealand could do. He did not mention Catherine Delahunty, the Martian member of the Green Party, or the other members of the Green Party who come from a different planet, because this is responsible legislation, and it is about making sure that here in this country we do what is right for our businesses and for our mums and dads. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EI want to touch on two points extremely briefly. This legislation has come to this House following in-depth consideration of the recommendations of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee. This legislation comes to the House following wide consultation with our communities, after the committee received written submissions, and following regional meetings and hui around the country. The purpose of these changes is to maintain the costs of the emissions trading scheme at the current level in our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EFinally, I want to say\u2014and I am touching on something that is very important for my electorate\u2014that what will be introduced is an offset scheme for pre-1990 forest land owners, allowing for the full tranche of compensation where offsetting is not taking place. That is extremely reasonable. There is far too much farmland that we are growing trees on, that we could be farming on, and we are farming on land that we could be growing trees on. This bill is actually recognising what is important to the economy, and bringing flexibility to a system that is also good for the economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003EI look forward to this bill coming to the Finance and Expenditure Committee. I look forward to us having the opportunity to hear from New Zealanders on all sides of this debate. This is a responsible thing for New Zealand. It is a responsible thing for agriculture in this country, and I commend Tim Groser again for bringing a responsible bill to this House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022a5dcd6f9f587497181a341aa059ee458\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a5dcd6f9f587497181a341aa059ee458\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I understand the next call is a split call between Labour and the Greens. We will have Dr Rajen Prasad. I will ring a bell at 4 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022 data-id=\u00221cd530fc2adb49b0b5f9a3a56b36669b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221cd530fc2adb49b0b5f9a3a56b36669b\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I am surprised at how members opposite have not really defended the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, at all. They have simply made statements and assumed that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9b7097956614e03bdf0d458d4c36ab0\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: We don\u2019t need to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c422e3d306434990878339e4914e153e\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: The member says we do not need to. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225629a8a417cc4a89a853a8c001ba63c6\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: People love it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2166dda28bf41eebf603f028393c8af\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: Perhaps the Minister does all this to New Zealanders so that they can understand what your thinking is. That member simply made a few statements, hardly realising what he was saying, and he does acknowledge\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ae49a8427e643979aa3caeaa046aeff\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: Don\u2019t argue with me, you\u2019ve only got 4 minutes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d50b70d5ec1b40df918a71373038a441\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: That Minister does acknowledge that he knows nothing about this. If he did give a reasoned speech, if he did make the points, then I might have listened to him. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220915055d270b4823acb9002f0a27e586\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re not going to be able to say anything if we keep arguing like this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224659b1d038d64a87bac5ff115035cbd0\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: The member carries on from the benches there, but he has nothing to say to defend the bill, and none of his colleagues have either. I think that Moana Mackey was right. The Government has forgotten why we are doing this, why this whole system has been designed, and why the international community is worried about this. It has forgotten the environment. Moana Mackey was absolutely right. Of course, there were no comments from the other side of the House about those things. It is almost as if those members are saying \u201CWe\u2019re in Government. We\u2019re saying it, therefore it must be right.\u201D Well, I hope that at the Finance and Expenditure Committee those members get challenged by submitters for some of what is coming up. They say nothing to defend the clean, green image we have. Members opposite want to trade on it, but there is no defence of it, and in fact the scheme we currently have actually is about keeping New Zealand clean and green. So those members are undermining the brand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003EThe last Government member who spoke, Todd McClay, was questioning some of the figures given by my Green colleague, but what Mr McClay needs to acknowledge is that New Zealand is one of the worst polluters on a per capita basis in the world. That is what Mr McClay needs to acknowledge\u2014and John Banks also. I think, Mr Banks, that you are now irrelevant to this Parliament, and your speech, Mr Banks, demonstrated that. Mr Banks criticised list members simply because they are list members\u2014the Hon John Banks\u2019 comments were that they were not elected. I do remember that member losing several elections. Auckland rejected him, and Epsom would have rejected him as well if it was not for the gerrymandering of the National Party\u2014[Interruption] Mr Banks ought to recognise that. Mr Banks, you are irrelevant. Most speeches you give in this House and most points of order you take just do not make sense. If you were not here, Mr Banks, nobody would miss you. Winston Peters is absolutely right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003EThere is a lot more I could say about that member John Banks, his performance, and his history. But he is history. If changes are made to the electoral system, that member is history and I do not expect to see him back in the House. We will not have to put up with the kind of rubbish he puts forward as if he is now some kind of a god. The member\u2019s time is over. Mr Banks, go back, enjoy life, and stay in Auckland, because Epsom will not want you again, that is for sure. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003EIf members opposite want to know whether climate change is a problem, they should go and talk to just one or two people from the Maldives, and I have. They should go and talk to just one or two people from Kiribati, and I have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d46e37bc88044f78f8e98ea2017f98e\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: What are you going to the Maldives for? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a65a63dc54504976a8f2de3ddde5f927\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Bridges, you do not have to go to the Maldives to speak to a person from the Maldives. Go back to Tauranga and you might learn something, Mr Bridges. We can talk to people we meet from other places. Many have come from this Parliament, as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003EThere are two other points I want to make. One is this: the biggest polluters are being exempted. Where is the sense in that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0f78f60-c2fd-46f4-8138-72f39692fc20\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298cf884cdb894e3d8640892f7e5afc9d\u0022\u003ETodd McClay\u003C/span\u003E: Who? Who are they?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d0ed94807e6c484bbec5a28e32f0bfb3\u0022\u003EDr RAJEN PRASAD\u003C/span\u003E: Our farmers, Mr McClay. The agricultural sector produces 50 percent of emissions and it is our biggest polluter. Why? That does not make any economic sense. There is no logic in that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225db0a23e-1579-44c6-9194-76e34cf5ae99\u0022\u003EThe other point is this: why is this Government so scared of leading the world on anything? They want to follow; they do not want to lead. New Zealand is a proud country, and there are times when New Zealand has led. I wonder what that side of the House would have done in the 1930s with social security. If they were in Government in the 1930s, would they have led? No. This is a terrible bill, and we will not be supporting it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u0022241e7d3be574436a98408df9bf081b10\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022241e7d3be574436a98408df9bf081b10\u0022\u003EJULIE ANNE GENTER (Green):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe. It is with great trepidation that I rise to speak on the first reading of this bill, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. I have to mention that the bill should probably be renamed the \u201CClimate Change Inaction Bill\u201D or the \u201CExtending Subsidies to Climate Polluters Bill\u201D, as that would be much more accurate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI would like to thank the Hon John Banks and the member Todd McClay for raising a really relevant statistic, which is that New Zealand\u2019s emissions are 0.2 percent of global emissions. I think it is probably relevant\u2014and I will help the Hon John Banks with some maths here\u2014that, actually, the New Zealand population is 0.06 percent of the global population. So that means that our contribution to emissions is over three, and closer to four, times greater than our size. Surely that is the relevant test as to whether or not we can make a difference and whether we should make a difference. We need to look at it on a per capita basis, and we are the fifth worst in the world right now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThis bill is a disaster. It is another example of National\u2019s economic mismanagement. What is the point of an emissions trading scheme? It is to put a price on carbon, because that is how economic instruments work. I admit it is not the best way. The best way would be something much more direct and transparent that would give certainty to business. That would be something like a carbon tax, and a fee and dividend, in which case businesses could plan ahead for the increased cost of carbon, and citizens could receive that money back directly and make different choices with their purchases, and they could benefit. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EI know that members on the Government side of the House, particularly the Hon John Banks, do not have a real handle on economics, but when you study economics, as I have, you learn about something called externalities. Externalities are costs that are not included in a transaction. Human-induced climate change, which is absolutely undeniable right now\u2014no thinking, educated person could possibly deny the evidence that human activities are leading to dangerous climate chaos around the world\u2014is going to be very costly. It is going to be very costly. It is going to be extremely bad for the economy. Even worse, it is going to be bad for people. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThere is no way that New Zealand can escape the high costs of climate chaos, which are already being felt across the world. National Party members know this\u2014or they claim to understand this reality\u2014but what this bill demonstrates is that not only are they not going to do anything to help New Zealand\u2019s economy transition to a smart, resilient footing; they are going in the absolute opposite direction. They are laying out the red carpet for the fossil fuel industry. They want them to come and drill, and frack, and mine, and do whatever they want to do to the precious places that New Zealanders love. They are subsidising this antiquated extractive approach so that a few foreign companies can turn a tidy profit under the big lie that somehow this is going to make ordinary New Zealanders richer or give them more opportunities. It is not the case. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe impacts of this Government\u2019s emphasis on a dirty fossil fuel economy are already being felt in the loss of clean renewable energy jobs. I spoke to someone who works in wind energy today, and he said that with the gutting of the emissions trading scheme it is clear that there are not going to be opportunities, and that nobody is planning for future wind generation. That is the cost. That is the cost of not putting a price on carbon. Anyone who understands the basics of economics could tell you this. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003EThe Minister for Climate Change Issues has said that this bill is about reducing costs to business and households, but what it is really doing is reducing choices for business and households. If the price of carbon is not direct, then no one can benefit from reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Innovative clean, green business cannot compete, because it is not a level playing field. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003ENational claims to be the party of economic credibility, but, in fact, it is completely ignoring the fundamental way in which economic instruments work. This bill guts an already ridiculously weak emissions trading scheme. We have a choice. The path is diverging, and we must choose one. We cannot develop a clean, green economy with opportunities for all New Zealanders if we are simultaneously subsidising dirty industries. This Government has chosen to put off\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022bc8f49a59667402785c001ff049020a0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bc8f49a59667402785c001ff049020a0\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. Her time is expired.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022 data-id=\u0022f79e5994f91f4c23b606e635e9811d2b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f79e5994f91f4c23b606e635e9811d2b\u0022\u003ETE URUROA FLAVELL (M\u0101ori Party\u2014Waiariki):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. Kia ora t\u0101tou katoa. I rise on behalf of the M\u0101ori Party to put just a few points before the House, to set out our support for the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill in its first reading. I want to reflect back just very briefly to late 2009. The Hon Nick Smith came to the M\u0101ori Party and worked with us on setting out, I suppose, the initial stand on the emissions trading scheme. We were able to negotiate some very important things that we thought were quite important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI am talking about the impact of power and petrol prices. We were able to have those halved. I am talking about home insulation for thousands of low-income households. I am talking about the Treaty clause in the legislation to ensure that the Crown\u2019s obligations to its Treaty partner were not going to be compromised by the emissions trading scheme. I am talking about the recognition that iwi have issues in respect of deforestation provisions. We were able to get a commitment from the Government that it would work with iwi and the M\u0101ori Party to find solutions for iwi with forests returned in Treaty settlements pre the emissions trading scheme period. We were fortunate enough to be able to work again with the Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group to play an ongoing role in international negotiations to allow for offsetting. The M\u0101ori Party was to be consulted closely on the review of the Permanent Forest Sink Initiative in terms of membership for that reference group.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E We sought allocation of New Zealand Units to iwi quota holders in respect of the fisheries industry. The M\u0101ori Party was also able to be consulted and to ensure that iwi agricultural interests were represented in an agricultural advisory group. The Government gave a commitment to work with the M\u0101ori Party to invest in domestic research priorities, which were signalled as a part of our early speeches at that time, and an international initiative to address agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. So the M\u0101ori Party has had input into ongoing dialogue on a broader environmental policy programme, and this has been very important to us. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003ECan I say that M\u0101ori have a very strong interest in this emissions trading scheme. It has a substantial impact on Treaty settlements that included forestry land. It has an impact on M\u0101ori farmers, and of them there are many. It has an impact on iwi investment\u2014in particular, in the geothermal generation area. It has an impact on petrol prices and electricity prices for poorer people. And, just as important, it has an impact on Papat\u016B\u0101nuku and the wider environment. To cut a long story short, the emissions trading scheme impacts on M\u0101ori in almost every walk of life. We can say that we have appreciated very much the ability for us to negotiate with the Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group, and I believe that it has appreciated very much the involvement, at the highest level, with the appropriate Ministers over these last couple of years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI will not go over too much of the substance of the bill, because I think that has pretty much been covered by a vast majority of the speakers today, but, more important, I will focus on the very important changes that we do support. The M\u0101ori Party is very supportive of, and pleased to support, the Government fully allocating the second tranche of the New Zealand Unit allocations to pre-1990 forests. That is with regard to Treaty settlements. We think that is important and that it protects the value of forestry settlements with iwi who own pre-1990 forests. As far as the Iwi Leadership Group support for this goes, it was able to let us know that in its regional hui throughout the country, the single biggest and priority issue for M\u0101ori and iwi has been the allocation of the second tranche of New Zealand Units. \u201CThe government decision to allocate these units is welcomed by Iwi/Maori.\u201D\u2014so said Dr Apirana Mahuika as the chair of that group, from memory. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EWe are pleased with the introduction of the forestry offsetting. It allows forestry owners to turn forestry land into better land use\u2014farms, etc.\u2014while setting up a forest in another parcel of land and allowing the carbon offsetting of the new forest to count. Prior to this bill, one had to pay for changes to land use, and that is no longer the case. That is important for us, and the Iwi Leadership Group came to the party by making the following statement: \u201CThe introduction of forestry offsetting as an option is welcomed too as it provides a mechanism for Maori forestry landowners to explore highest and best land use where currently our Maori forestry landowners are effectively locked into forestry forever or, bear crippling deforestation liabilities.\u201D Those are some of the key points that we think are quite important, and are good points that have certainly come through from the Iwi Leadership Group. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EOne or two points that we might add just in closing are in respect of some of the key questions that we might have a few questions about, in respect of the agricultural sector not having emissions trading scheme obligations until 2015. M\u0101ori have big farming interests. In fact, the M\u0101ori incorporation Paraninihi ki Wait\u014Dtara Inc. is Fonterra\u2019s biggest supplier in Taranaki. We believe that we need to find a balance between keeping our most important exporter afloat during tough economic times, but at the same time protecting Papat\u016B\u0101nuku, protecting the environment. On the one hand the technology does not exist to stop carbon emissions from livestock, which means that making the agricultural sector subject to the emissions trading scheme means farmers are paying a tax for something that is a little bit beyond their control. On the other hand, agriculture causes the most emissions of any sector, and it should be incentivised to reduce emissions. Giving farmers a 3-year holiday for paying, which is subsidised by the rest of us, does not really incentivise them to reduce emissions. But over and above that, more research and technology need to happen to find a way to lessen the emissions from animals. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003EI want to make one or two final points. It seems to us that, in a sense, we might be actually forgetting about the environment itself. One of the most unfortunate consequences of the way the emissions trading scheme is set up is that the focus of emitters appears to be on negotiation and manoeuvring around the price for units. I am talking about things such as auctions, exchange rates for the units, where they are being bought, where they are sold, and where they are being produced. We think that those are valid questions that need to be addressed. The purpose of the emissions trading scheme was meant to be about improving the environment first and foremost. It has not necessarily played out that way\u2014we tend to think about it in terms of business alone\u2014but it is about that fine balancing act. We would suggest that it might be about time to consider green growth possibilities as well as the emissions trading scheme. We do support the bill at this point in time and we look forward to the discussion as it goes through the various stages. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002299b9b570b84b43168f152aae7dadc4ab\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill be now read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a first time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000360\u0022\u003EThe question was put that the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill be considered by the Finance and Expenditure Committee.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u0022c35ce227ab9944bca36b298f52d650d9\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the question be agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EQuestion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022 data-id=\u002233244dd036bb474d88f236b9038965a3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223f670c71-9be5-4a7e-a197-0590da759280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002233244dd036bb474d88f236b9038965a3\u0022\u003EHon TIM GROSER (Minister for Climate Change Issues):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Finance and Expenditure Committee report to the House on or before 17 October 2012, and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, and outside the Wellington area during a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 188, 190, and 191(1)(b) and (c). I request a shorter than usual time frame for the select committee\u2019s consideration of this bill as the proposed changes have been extensively debated during and through the 2011 review panel process, involving written and oral submissions, the release of the review panel report, and a series of hui organised by the Climate Change Iwi Leadership Group. A discussion document was released by the Government and discussed at public meetings around the country, including meetings with iwi, the opportunity for written submissions, of which 370 were received, and subsequent follow-up meetings with interested parties. The level of consultation to date with the public and interested parties has been extensive, and in order to ensure that the legislation is passed into law before the end of this parliamentary year, I feel it is reasonable to shorten the period available for select committee consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002268e3922b360546c59025a396c79ef173\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002268e3922b360546c59025a396c79ef173\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister moving the motion suggested that the report-back date should be the year 212. He is about 1,800 years too late for that motion, and he might want to say 2012 or something similar. I am only trying to help him.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022e6dca7ab78be4c8cad762b55c30ca60f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e6dca7ab78be4c8cad762b55c30ca60f\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: I have put the motion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221713b090da1d40b6b640daaf1c46f4f0\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order, Mr Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227a6a046d2a5d485195b035442c6560dc\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: Hang on. You brought up a point of order; I am going to rule on it. The intention of the Minister was well known, it is written down, and 20-12 or 2012, the intention was clear.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022bfa90f4bfeb745b5b0608796d0022315\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bfa90f4bfeb745b5b0608796d0022315\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It is not written down for members of the House. You might have been included in some internal Government documentation, which would be questionable, but it has not been provided to members of the House, and for you to suggest that it has been is quite wrong. If there is a run sheet that belongs to the Government that you are privy to, then that is another issue. I suggest that if the Minister corrects his statement we do not need to have the whole speech all over again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022 data-id=\u0022f5e4783b846b4fbabc408bd0ceb1c37f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022893adc11-ce4e-419c-a079-08f04b3d75f5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f5e4783b846b4fbabc408bd0ceb1c37f\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch)\u003C/span\u003E: The ruling is that the motion has been laid on the Table, so it has been available for members to see. Even though the Minister may have inadvertently truncated the year, the intent is clear. It has been available to members, and so we will proceed as per the debate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022 data-id=\u002284c35fd3e4644b38a50170f3af408f20\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002284c35fd3e4644b38a50170f3af408f20\u0022\u003EMOANA MACKEY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I want to officially put on the record that despite the long speech of the Minister for Climate Change Issues on the referral motion, our concern at the very, very short report-back time for this very significant piece of legislation, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill\u201417 October 2012\u2014is that it does not give the Finance and Expenditure Committee the time to do the job that it is supposed to do. The Minister may well have done consultation outside of the parliamentary process, but that does not mean that he has the right to truncate the parliamentary process in the way that he is, or that he has the right to undermine the parliamentary process in the way that he has by giving a report-back date that is less than 7 weeks away from where we are today. Normally, we would take 6 weeks to receive submissions at a select committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a187af811d324bcc8ca6e482a46ae438\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: Not really. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7735b4da3024a31b7c3c101a12c4429\u0022\u003EMOANA MACKEY\u003C/span\u003E: The member says not really. I know under National that has not been the case. That has been the convention, and a 6-month time period at the select committee. We are being given a 7-week time period in which to advertise the bill, call for submissions, review the submissions, call submitters in to hear before the committee, have the officials do a summary of those submissions and a departmental report, make amendments to the bill, go through the amended bill, deliberate, and report back to Parliament. We cannot do that in 7 weeks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003EThe fact is that although the Government went out and consulted, as the Minister said in his speech, on a raft of proposed changes, what he has not consulted on is the actual final legislation that has landed in the House. That legislation differs not only from what the Minister said in the consultations that he outlined but also in some cases from what he promised would be in it. Some people who may have felt that they were consulted outside of the parliamentary process were led to believe that there would be things in this legislation that the Minister promised them would be there, such as some kind of restraint on the number of international units that can be brought into New Zealand. That was promised; it is not there. I do not think it is fair for the Minister to argue that a 7-week process on a significant and technical piece of legislation is OK when he actually has not produced a piece of legislation that follows on from the consultation that he outlined before. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002270dd644d-8bcf-40dc-998a-887d62d24a76\u0022\u003ESo Labour is very concerned. The fact is that we will not be able to do the job. The fact is that it shows that the Government has absolutely no intention of making any changes at the select committee. It is just paying lip service to it. It is a waste of time. We are very, very disappointed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022 data-id=\u002240a22a92678e43e5b68b50d034cc2fb5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002240a22a92678e43e5b68b50d034cc2fb5\u0022\u003EDr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Just speaking to the earlier point of order, I want to add my voice in support of the expression of concern. I do so for two or three reasons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ELess than 4 months is an inadequate amount of time for the House to consider this particular bill, the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. It is well known, and should be well known to the Minister for Climate Change Issues, that there is a qualitative difference between the process by which a bill is developed by the Government through a series of hui and meetings and listening to submitters, as the Minister said, on the one hand, and the parliamentary process by which the Government brings the bill into the House for it to be digested and debated by colleagues on all benches. They are completely different processes. To cite the first process and the length and comprehensiveness, as he put it, of the first process as a reason to truncate the second process is wrong and irrelevant. It is surprising that a Minister of the Cabinet should produce such a weak argument.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003ESecondly, on points of substance there is arguably no greater issue of moment before society and New Zealand, and, therefore, this Parliament, than climate change. To suggest that we can truncate that issue, of any issue, within a 4-month period is also erroneous.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002292557bd5-0e66-473c-a6df-7d108e7822e3\u0022\u003EThirdly, on substance, we heard in all glorious technicolour this afternoon a full range of views, arguably from mine on the one hand to the Hon John Banks\u2019 immediately following on the other. Unless we regard the parliamentary process as simply mindless, unhearing, unthinking legislative machinery, then we would have regard to seeing whether there is any scope for either getting complete common ground between the Opposition and Government, or at the very least identifying areas of disagreement that have been expressed this afternoon that we could at least shave off to move towards some common ground. Common ground on this issue, as farmers, business, and other sectors have said, is an essential criterion of predictability for investment purposes. To suggest that we just do not give a damn about that and that we will just run this thing through with the numbers as fast as we can is unedifying in the extreme and is not doing justice to the importance of the issue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002246fdd3fa724a47c6bd4c72626e419418\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Finance and Expenditure Committee report to the House on or before 17 October 2012, and that the committee have authority to meet at any time while the House is sitting (except during oral questions), during any evening on a day on which there has been a sitting of the House, on a Friday in a week in which there has been a sitting of the House, and outside the Wellington area during a sitting of the House, despite Standing Orders 188, 190, and 191(1)(b) and (c).\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 59; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bcb72c0725074238ad9e2cceff1f76a1\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022defda2dd121144649d257cb7663c5a93\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022 data-id=\u00225c8736c2b6b94e70bea97f82501d4212\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225c8736c2b6b94e70bea97f82501d4212\u0022\u003EHon JOHN BANKS (Minister for Regulatory Reform):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill, the Animal Products Amendment Bill, the Companies Amendment Bill (No 2), the Conservation Amendment Bill, the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill, the Fisheries Amendment Bill, the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill, the Radiocommunications Amendment Bill, the Registered Architects Amendment Bill, the Statistics Amendment Bill, the Takeovers Amendment Bill, the Unit Trusts Amendment Bill, the Wine Amendment Bill, and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EUntil the Committee of the whole House stage, these amendments were progressed through the Regulatory Reform Bill and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill. The 13 bills arising from the Regulatory Reform Bill remove unnecessary costs to business. Using an omnibus bill to fix up the fairly minor legislative niggles that cause these unnecessary costs is an efficient use of House time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EThese 13 bills will result in the following changes. The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill will remove the requirement for unnecessary registry information to be included in a public register. It also simplifies the registry process for cancelling obsolete product registrations or when there is continued non-compliance. The Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill, the Animal Products Amendment Bill, and the Wine Amendment Bill line up the recognition of agencies and persons across food safety regulated and related legislation. The Companies Amendment Bill (No 2) removes unnecessary requirements and provides greater certainty for business, and I note as Minister for Small Business that companies will be able to use electronic voting systems and shareholders will be able to participate in meetings via the internet.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EThe Conservation Amendment Bill provides increased certainty for concession holders and their business operations. The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill modernises labelling requirement and provides more efficient and effective classification review processes. This amendment will produce savings of $53,000 per week in this industry. The Fisheries Amendment Bill improves fisheries regulation and provides a simple process for registration as a notified user. The Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill removes conflicting or unnecessary requirements on credit unions. The Radiocommunications Amendment Bill simplifies the process for cancelling or modifying radio spectrum licences. The Registered Architects Amendment Bill allows for more efficient complaints and disciplinary processes. The Statistics Amendment Bill means that non-government researchers will have equitable access to microdata. The Takeovers Amendment Bill provides greater certainty in the application of the Takeovers Code and enhances the operational efficiency of the Takeovers Panel. The Unit Trusts Amendment Bill enables accounts and financial statements to be distributed electronically to unit holders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b53f8451-a5f8-4e92-851f-9ca381f19343\u0022\u003EThe Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill clears the statute book of 31 spent Acts and, consequently, revokes three regulations. These bills all improve the regulatory environment. I commend these bills to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u00220d2177fd9af04b9289b4f8312d55c53e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220d2177fd9af04b9289b4f8312d55c53e\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour\u2014Hutt South):\u003C/span\u003E That was a subdued approach from the member for Epsom, the Minister for Small Business\u2014the Minister who very rarely comes to the House. When he does come here he is normally a bit more excited. One might think that the animal remedies had been applied to him, possibly a dose of horse tranquiliser or something like that, to get the Minister to that level of stability. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThese bills are an interesting group of bills. Shall we start with the Statistics Amendment Bill? My question to the Minister in charge of the bill is whether this is of any assistance to lying people who do false returns as a result of their mayoral election campaigns. Can they fix the statistics that are lies in their returns as a result of the Statistics Amendment Bill we are currently considering? There is no answer\u2014no answer whatsoever\u2014from the Hon John Banks. I do not care whether he nods his head or shakes it, I just want to see John Banks indicate that this is not a back-door method of getting him to fix the false returns that he so regularly makes on election returns. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe Companies Amendment Bill (No 2) has amendments around how meetings are held. The question I have is whether this bill still requires people to have records of meetings, and whether that would help to solve the amnesia that the Minister in charge of these bills, John Banks, has about meetings. Clearly, he regularly forgets whom he has met with and when he has met with them, and I wonder whether the \u201CMethods of holding meetings\u201D clause within this bill would be helpful. There is another clause in here, which relates to the service of documents on offshore companies, and I just want to ask whether there is any relationship between the documents\u2014that is, the cheques that John Banks regularly received from offshore companies, including from Mr Kim Dotcom; we will get to Skycity in a second\u2014and whether or not having those documents made public will be helped or hindered by this, therefore checking whether there should be a declaration of self-interest on the part of the Hon John Banks in this area. There is a clause that relates to interest payable on outstanding payments. What about the money that John Banks has not paid back to Kim Dotcom, the money that he took under false pretences from Kim Dotcom? The question is whether that $50,000 will have to be returned in one cheque or two, and whether or not there should be interest. That is a question that has to be raised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EThe Friendly Societies and Credit Union Amendment Bill, which we are considering, has to do with accounts that are held within organisations and the means of distribution. What I want to ask is whether there is any credit union account in the joint name of Skycity and the Hon John Banks. Is there any other method, other than the brown paper bag full of money or the envelope with a cheque in it, that John Banks has received\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c3fe6a325326427fbbfd60b7bc7f6968\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just want to remind this member, who has been around these premises for a very long time\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e19d2ddf8dc7491a9f4bf39a1c8f8b76\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! If the member has a point of order, he should make it clearly and not\u2014[Interruption] Order! I am on my feet. He should not direct his comments about how long a member has been here, or whatever. He should succinctly say what the point of order is about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022531ec19c9f7847c59f2c934cb5903a04\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2c606693ccb417db0bbc6d2daaca594\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: If the member has a point of order, let us just\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b7dfa81564cc4c1abd9c2f949fa492bb\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: If you will allow me, the point of order is that he is straying away from the subject matter of these bills, and he is talking about matters that are totally irrelevant to the bills.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa21b018d1484782a0ca289deca7885c\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, the Chair is, of course, the sole judge of relevance, but I would refer you to the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill new section 117A, \u201CMeaning of distribution\u201D, inserted by clause 91A. I was talking about the distribution of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2de81895944473ba1b8eb5385acd935\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: All right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222ab8455923ea4d5b8c7713bf65f79ff7\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Is that enough? Are you happy? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022942813582f9b41419863a59c9d3bacb9\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: You have brought me into it by asking about my state of mind, and that is not appropriate. [Interruption] Order! I am on my feet. I believe the member was within the parameter of a third reading speech, but that does not give him free licence. I will hear the member. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf44b76e3930455aac1d889d8a2ae7e4\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Just before, when the member Sam Lotu-Iiga tried to make a point of order, you cut him off rather tersely. I would ask that when\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dd6e3586cf3b4ad3a9752097989154fb\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! It is inappropriate to challenge the ruling in the manner that the member has done. The reason I cautioned Sam Lotu-Iiga was that he started referring to the member. He was using a point of order to cast aspersions on the member. That is the reason. Any member raising a point of order must do so tersely, and they will find that quite clearly in the Speakers\u2019 rulings. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245f74b3c56ee494694d4c04061df2022\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. With respect, I was not challenging your ruling, and I am not talking about your first ruling, when you said that the member went on too long. It was the second time, when you cut him off before he had even finished his point of order. He had not even spoken, with respect, and I am asking that, going forward, this side of the House is given a little bit of courtesy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022532854e6ce6e4d38a28dfb72b9696b4f\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I hear the member, but there is no requirement for the Speaker to hear a point of order in its entirety. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdb6271731f7442cbe30b239eaaaaf63\u0022\u003EMichael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Without wishing to relitigate the points that you have made in respect of the substance of the bill, I am mindful of Speaker\u2019s ruling 122/7, which states: \u201CMembers must confine themselves to the main purposes and contents of the bill;\u201D, and also of Speaker\u2019s ruling 123/1(6), which says: \u201Cnor may a member go through the bill clause by clause;\u201D. In order to draw the very long bow that the member is attempting to do, I am suggesting that he may be straying from those particular rulings. Although you have ruled, and I accept that, I hope that some cognisance of those particular principles could be had. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220fdd615c215c4d1dab5e60360a466fc7\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022912de2d3c2ce4fb98894b47a2b9429dc\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I do not really need the member\u2014let me just say this. Members will be aware that I have only just assumed the Chair. I have not had an opportunity to hear in detail what the member has said. I think the points are well made: we are talking about the principles of the bill. I will hear the member. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d93b88bb6537427ba8463ae0b37ac7a9\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: I want to talk about the distribution to members, which is most of the substantive part of the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill, which is one of the bills that we are currently debating. I also want to say that I do not regard it as an insult in any way to be described as a member who is experienced in the ways of the House. That is not an aspersion. I regard that\u2014I know I am referring to your ruling, and I probably should not\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022908c2c9677e94d81b80768ce7a32b0b3\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think he is referring to your ruling. I obviously talked about his experience\u2014or his lack of common sense, I suppose. It sort of weighs that up. But he is referring to it, and you should bring him into line, I think. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f23c5ac792c84ab48ed14a5132050b35\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I will uphold that. The member was referring to the point of order, and I invited him to get on with his speech. Please do so. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f0e4ab5750c41ebaa0329b8a409805f\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: The point that I want to make right now is that John Banks takes money from anyone. John Banks takes money from any route, and I want an assurance that he is not using\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200ca0eb3583c4e678840068524843392\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is way off beam from the contents and the topics of these bills. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ff657e6e68d54423873f53c84072c2ac\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I believe that is outside the main points of a third reading speech, as outlined in Speaker\u2019s ruling 122/7. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002213565d9a3e5e423ab72aee3dd129060a\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: This bill deals with the distribution of funds. I want an assurance that, as well as receiving money in plain envelopes, money in brown paper bags, and money from Kim Dotcom, John Banks is not receiving money through credit unions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002205a53f724dab49f4a7176228d49c4bc1\u0022\u003EMichael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Can I suggest that in order for this line of debate to be in order, it would be necessary for the member to establish that Mr Banks is indeed a member of a New Zealand credit union. I should just seek that assurance that indeed he is, in order that the debate may be brought within the scope of a third reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fde3284b19ff4eb39378bbe9e900d958\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I will uphold that. I think that we are talking about principles here, and I would ask the member to draw those conclusions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002210f64fc55fc04b188c7c523bccf4273c\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: I want to talk about the security of payments from credit unions, which is part of this bill, and the authorisation of those, and I want an assurance from the Minister in charge of the bill that this bill is not being used to hide yet another payment that he has received. He has history\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202b064c9ca3c43f687c2afcc2efb9e6e\u0022\u003EMichael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I again draw you back to the substance of the debate. In order for the speech, in my view, to be within the terms of the Standing Orders, it would need to be established that the member who is being referred to in the debate is a member of the credit union. I ask again for that assurance, lest he trivialise the Speakers\u2019 rulings. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252449abeac224213b0eca009e79258ef\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, I just want to totally refute that you have to prove that someone is a member of a credit union before asking the House to indicate that he is not receiving money from one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a7f42ecff9644809139961e8c54d967\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I just invite members to look at this. There is actually a suite of Speakers\u2019 rulings on page 122 on third readings, and they do require these sorts of points: \u201CMembers must confine themselves to the general principles of the bill as it emerged from the committee.\u201D, and \u201CMembers must confine themselves to the main purposes and contents of the bill;\u201D. I just ask members that that be their guide when they are speaking.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df7da496cbc74018a931332f41f88f41\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: The main purpose of this bill is to control the distribution of funds from credit unions. That is what this bill is about. I just want an assurance from the Minister in charge of the bill that the distribution systems around this are sufficient to prevent dirty money getting to him the way that dirty money has got to him\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a3566989a894384861d6d7513d2fc72\u0022\u003EMichael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Without drawing you towards Speaker\u2019s ruling 79/1, I strongly suggest the member is now trivialising your rulings and termination must be an option.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022322e7959223a448e805293595bf99b33\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member was fine in the first part of his assertions about the requirement of the bill. To actually personalise it in the way that he did is a step beyond a third reading speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022822debc6bc7040468dfe90f2e16930b2\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just want to raise an issue with you, which is that in order for you be able to judge these matters, you need to be able to hear out the member, and it is up to you to interrupt members if you feel they are straying off. There are actually Speakers\u2019 rulings about continually interrupting members during their speech\u2014it is very clearly out of order\u2014which is, clearly, what is happening here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a799ea21ffcc4acea7d93b04efcce268\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, I think I am also seeking an assurance that you have actually looked at what is in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220da856715f6649a8909d4ac06334843e\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: That is almost a step too far. I am familiar with the bill, can I assure you of that. I think the points that have been made on both sides are reasonably valid. Points of order could be used for continual interruption, but also I would just caution the member that a third reading speech is a little more confined than other speeches. I have directed the member to talk about the principles of the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226784ae0bb9784d1cb901a96aace94ebe\u0022\u003EMichael Woodhouse\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I do not wish to prolong this, but a direct accusation has been made that I am deliberately interrupting the member\u2019s speech. I want to give the House an assurance that that is not the case, and, indeed, I want him to complete his speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002297c35daab65641ce9446123ecb502518\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I hear the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ea6816b351446c4a0fd22574d7363ca\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: I think it would probably be helpful if we moved on to the next bill. This happens to be the Takeovers Amendment Bill, and it is a Brash-Banks clause in the Takeovers Amendment Bill. Is this the one they rolled Rodney Hide with? Is this the one that they rolled Rodney with, the Takeovers Amendment Bill? Would this prevent the sort of fraud that was involved in that? A combination of this and the Statistics Amendment Bill, which we are dealing with\u2014do they between them\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228290e255fa714b9188bdfc0cd65d6b99\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The member has alleged fraud against a sitting member. That is unparliamentary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229ba014bbf7c74893b402c7519a7c391b\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I was just trying to pick up the exact context. I know that the member did reference fraud, but I did not actually pick that he tied it to a member. He said that this is the sort of fraud. In that regard, he did not tag it to a member. He is skirting very, very close to the wind, but he is just inside the boundary on that one.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a52d97efc7d6416783d2a4e0a2dada75\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: The question I was going to ask is whether a combination of this and the Statistics Amendment Bill could be used to stop the publication of false polls by fraud in the way that Dr Brash and Mr Banks did before the last election, when they were rolling Rodney Hide. They said that a Brash-Banks - led ACT Party would, in fact, get 15 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221dbd2811-8e58-4ffb-848d-31c0eaa9690a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022995c7129f40f46bdb5403badf989c284\u0022\u003EChris Hipkins\u003C/span\u003E: How did that work out?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a5cd71244694095ad1f5b1611595a90\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I think that was fraud. I think that was fraud. Brash was not a member of Parliament and Banks was not a member of Parliament at the time, but their activities were certainly a fraud on the ACT Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022badb0a39-849c-462a-b32f-77fc017c9fc2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231bea883f0d44889aa77d9c9a5f292e5\u0022\u003EHon Simon Bridges\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. That is far too much of a nuance. He is alleging fraud in relation to the member John Banks. That may be in the past before he was a member, but it is still unparliamentary to do that, given that John Banks is a sitting member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002202b3080ed3344a2884546e05be998ca0\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299b272a147c340969c858f931b225144\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Are you speaking to this point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e743fb42f6a4d8c8cc7956d5dcfef47\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: No, I am raising another point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bf85546e25ce437886aad91d1d565737\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I need to rule on that one. I am listening very carefully, and I guess by inference one could claim that the member has done that. But he has actually stopped short of associating it or tagging it directly to the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfc14ffaff5549359b2a1990fda5a19b\u0022\u003EPeseta Sam Lotu-Iiga\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The chief whip of the Government has asked you about whether that member is trivialising your rulings, because takeovers as pertaining to what is in this bill have nothing to do with what the member is referring to. I ask you to please ask him to point out where the relevance is to this bill, because he is clearly trifling with your rulings. I ask that termination be an option.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275dc6f9013ec4b2b87dd7b0ca7801ac0\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, you are the sole judge of relevance, and for a member to tell you to take that into account is in itself disorderly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fedac3a14c814dc385ddedaa2b1b7ecf\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: There is a range of issues that are coming forward here. One is continual interruption and the requirement of the Speaker to make those rulings. The member who is speaking is actually, in a way, getting close enough to the line that he is baiting members. So there is a bit of to and fro on either side about this matter. The House can choose whether it wants to move forward. I invite the member to direct his comments at the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6dc674419c64807a61397f14e8fb7c3\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: Can you just give me an indication of how much longer I have got?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a303a9905954e91a023a4eadeed3238\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Just over 2 minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288dbab3dd6dc49418ff9c0d8d7a399a0\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD\u003C/span\u003E: I think there are only two of the bills that I will have time to refer to. One is the Registered Architects Amendment Bill, and the question is whether, in fact, this bill will give recognition to architects and to particular houses, and whether that would help some people\u2019s memory. I know of someone who forgot that they went to the Chrisco mansion. The other thing is the Radiocommunications Amendment Bill, and this has to do, I understand, with radio programming and spectrum licences. My question to the Minister in charge of the bill is whether, again, this will be helpful in the redevelopment of memory. In this particular case, when asked about his relationship with Kim Dotcom, he said: \u201CI\u2019m not in a relationship with that man. He is married.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022 data-id=\u00225cde3f455eb64f1bac6c08906e30b2b2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225cde3f455eb64f1bac6c08906e30b2b2\u0022\u003EJONATHAN YOUNG (National\u2014New Plymouth):\u003C/span\u003E Well, I do trust that my contribution can be a bit of sense amongst the triviality of that last speech, from Trevor Mallard, which I am sure that people who have been listening to this debate have been appalled by. We who worked through this legislation in the Commerce Committee believe that it will make a significant difference to the businesses in our nation, which is what this legislation is about. It is about nothing that the previous member spoke on. It is actually about bringing some relief and some lifting of financial and regulatory burden to those businesses out there, to those New Zealanders, to those hard-working people who want to see this Parliament be effective in helping them. I think that that is what this Parliament wants to do and what the people of New Zealand want this Parliament to achieve. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003ESo I believe that in progressing this bill here in its third reading\u2014well, all the 13 separate bills arising from the Regulatory Reform Bill, and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill\u2014are relieving what the Minister described as niggles, and we have surely had enough niggles here today regarding this legislation. It is going to be something where I think New Zealanders may not see the huge, massive impact of major legislation, but they will receive the benefit of all the smaller changes that take place, which in the end will have a significant benefit in the bottom lines of businesses, and that is going to release more funds, more finance, and more profits to businesses. It is going to help with employment, better public services, and, in the end, a better way of life for New Zealanders. So what is good for business has got to be good for New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EWe believe that less but better regulation\u2014not less is better, but less but better\u2014is essential to boost New Zealand\u2019s productivity, its growth, its international competitiveness, and its living standards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279c72f24ed2e45bfbd4a1b8f4cca18e4\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s father knew how to make a speech without reading it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cdd13a2edf3a4a7bb41acb1653565716\u0022\u003EJONATHAN YOUNG\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, well, certainly I do not think you read your speech across the House there. Certainly, I would say that the content of this speech is probably a lot more substantial than the content of the previous one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EWhat New Zealand needs is a better policy environment, which is a very good reason why we have National as the leading party in this Government. We are bringing a better policy environment for businesses in New Zealand, which is going to create the economic advantage that we need. We live so far away from most of our markets. We live so far away from the great populations of the world in our isolation here, and in our geographical distance, that it is imperative and important that we have a very good, robust, positive, attractive policy environment in order to retain talent\u2014that mobile talent that can go anywhere in the world. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EWe know that all New Zealanders do an OE. Of course, you hear the haranguing around that, but, you know, many New Zealanders go overseas and then return with global skills and global connections. All of that brings an improvement into the capability of our businesses here in New Zealand. It is important to have this environment, which attracts people to business in this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EIn fact, back in April Bill English went to Australia, and there many Australian businesses were very, very jealous of the environment that has been created here in New Zealand. We know that investment is coming this way. It is because of what we are doing\u2014it is because we are working systematically through the regulations that work in the business sphere. In particular, we are working through this systematically to identify those areas that are redundant and those areas that are constrictive, with a determination that we are going to have regulation that is robust, that is essential, that is reasonable, and that has rigorousness about it. We are also going to remove those redundant pieces of legislation that just clutter the business environment. All of these are part of our plan to improve the environment for New Zealand businesses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EWe touched on this last night as we went through Part 5 of the Regulatory Reform Bill, where we looked at the amendment to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993. It is just a very simple measure that is going to bring significant savings to that industry. Instead of having to take a DVD slip out of its cover and then adhere a rating classification to it, those in the industry are now able to print this at the source of supply, and this is going to make a significant saving to them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E Comment has been made that we could have progressed this legislation a little bit faster in order to bring that benefit to people. But I understand that that area of the industry approached the previous Labour Government, year after year, and then, finally, it thought that this was a good idea. So it has taken a long time to bring that sort of relief and that sort of benefit to that sector. It is important that these things happen, in order to build this better policy environment and in order to bring the success that people aspire to in this country. We believe that better regulation and less regulation is essential. This is what we are working on as a Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EOne of the changes that we have made is a new system for assessing the health of New Zealand\u2019s regulatory regimes. This will help improve economic performance over the longer term. The results of preliminary assessments are included in a report called The Best Practice Regulation Model: Principles and Assessments, which was released on the Treasury website this month, August 2012. This new model for assessing major pieces of regulation considers whether each regime gives appropriate weighting to factors that can help improve economic performance, competition, innovation, exports, compliance costs, and trade and investment openness. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003EIn 2009 the Government Statement on Regulation: Better Regulation, Less Regulation made two major commitments. We said: \u201CWe will introduce new regulation only when we are satisfied that it is required, reasonable, and robust.\u201D The second commitment is: \u201CWe will review existing regulation in order to identify and remove requirements that are unnecessary, ineffective, or excessively costly.\u201D So I am very pleased to stand and support this legislation in its third reading. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022 data-id=\u0022a8aa3b72797f4fcd9b2a8a0333339321\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a8aa3b72797f4fcd9b2a8a0333339321\u0022\u003ECLARE CURRAN (Labour\u2014Dunedin South):\u003C/span\u003E I started off talking in the House last night on the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill by saying that it was surreal. It was surreal speaking on a bill that repeals 31 Acts that no longer exist. Well, last night certainly turned into a surreal experience when it was more like karaoke than normal practice of the House, and we certainly had some challenges before us. Certainly parts of the discussion and debate last night deteriorated into farce due to the issues that we were confronted with. But the real reason why it was so surreal was because the Minister for Regulatory Reform, who had brought this bill to the House\u2014the latest Minister to bring this bill to the House\u2014was John Banks, who, as been referenced by a number of speakers, has certainly been suffering from documented memory loss. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EI just want to refer to what the previous speaker said on a couple of issues, because he said that there have been a lot of niggles raised on this side of the House about this legislation and the issues that lie in behind. I would just like to say to him that they are more than niggles. This legislation is about tinkering with regulatory reform, but the niggles that the members on that side of the House seem to have such an issue with are serious issues. They are issues of probity\u2014the probity of a Minister and the ability of that Minister to actually bring legislation before the House and have credibility on that. They are issues about the principles of regulatory reform, what those principles actually mean, and whether or not the Minister who brought this legislation to the House has the credibility to bring those issues before the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EThe member on the other side of the House also talked about a better policy environment. Well, you know, that is a bit of a joke, really, when you think about it, because the better policy environment that we have at the moment includes things that that Minister who has brought this legislation to the House has got some sort of responsibility for. It includes charter schools\u2014charter schools, which are actually using taxpayers\u2019 money and interfering with our important State school system. He has got memory loss. He has got memory loss about donations. This legislation does contain a lot of information and a lot of change around the probity of how organisations such as New Zealand credit unions operate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003ECronyism is another major issue that is before this House and it is before this House again today. The latest issue of cronyism is around the appointment of Wayne Mapp\u2019s private secretary to a position that is doubtful\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b9a658df9a004955b732ee2845df86ca\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! We have had some very clear instruction as to what the topic that is acceptable to this debate is, and the member has strayed outside it. I ask her to return to the third reading speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002252aefd07a887445fbeb119a3be6ca099\u0022\u003ECLARE CURRAN\u003C/span\u003E: I will turn to the legislation, because the legislation in the third reading does make some important changes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222aa0b524-c38d-45aa-bd5b-99c5927085f4\u0022\u003EI would like to reiterate that this legislation is actually legislation that came out of the work that was done by the previous Labour Government. This legislation sat on the Order Paper for several years and has not been progressed despite resulting in some quite significant money saving that could actually have already been taking place. There are four particular issues that it deals with. The Companies Act is amended and it will save money on using electronic shareholder participation. That could have been in place for the last 2 years if this Government had not lagged on bringing this legislation back to the House. The Unit Trusts Amendment Bill amends the Unit Trusts Act so that financial statements and accounts can be distributed electronically. We had a lot of discussion last night about amending the Films, Videos, and Publications Classifications Act. Millions of dollars could have been saved on this in the last couple of years. Then this legislation aligns inconsistency in all food-related Acts. So we support this legislation. It came out of work that we did and that we did in the previous Government. It should have been brought before this House before now, and that Government and that Minister who brought it before the House have some serious issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022 data-id=\u0022e93fdcf2508d4d2194307940157f5ecd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e93fdcf2508d4d2194307940157f5ecd\u0022\u003EDr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E I rise on behalf of the Green Party to speak to the 13 bills that the Regulatory Reform Bill has been broken into. I want to talk about just a couple of aspects. I do not want to talk about all of the different 13 amendment bills that are contained here. I just want to focus on a couple of them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EBefore we start, I say that it was interesting to hear Jonathan Young\u2019s speech. I thought that Jonathan Young made an interesting speech about the philosophical framework for regulatory reform that the Government has adopted. I thought it was a useful exposition, actually, of where the Government comes from. In many respects I think that many people would agree with what Jonathan Young said in the sense that he was saying, well, how do we try to reduce the negative impacts of regulation on the operation of business? I think it is certainly true that there are regulations that exist that do have negative implications for business, and I think we would all agree that there is a case for amending or reforming those to make sure they do not have that effect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EI guess, in a way, the Government does not have a lot on its economic agenda beyond that kind of microeconomic reform. So in some ways that approach typifies the Government\u2019s approach, which is microeconomic reform, and the Government\u2019s approach overall is to do these kinds of microeconomic reforms in the hope that by keeping hands off more generally there will be some kind of great economic miracle. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003E To some degree, there is no question that there is a role for that kind of economic approach. The problem, I think, is, more broadly, that if you look at macroeconomic policy, the Government\u2019s approach to macroeconomic policy more generally is quite problematic. Aside from picking a few winners like the mining industry, it is not assisting some of our most important export sectors. So although this legislation before us, I think, makes some contribution, it has to be seen in the broader picture of the Government\u2019s economic strategy, which is very much lacking and is, of course, reflected in the poor economic performance of New Zealand under this Government. Of course, accepting that there have been external factors that have influenced the economic performance of New Zealand as well, undoubtedly, the fact that the Government lacks an economic strategy more generally, I think, has been problematic. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EIn terms of the regulatory reform legislation, I want to talk first about the amendments to the concessions process for the Department of Conservation estate in the Conservation Amendment Bill. That is the one bill that we will be voting against. We will be voting in favour of all the other amendment bills, but that is the one that we are voting against. A concession is the right to access or use parts of the Department of Conservation estate for commercial purposes. It is very important that there is a concessions process so that parts of the Department of Conservation estate can be used for commercial purposes, but the Green Party believes it is fundamental that the ecological or biodiversity bottom lines come first. So the fundamental starting point has to be that we protect the ecological or environmental values of the Department of Conservation estate first. Concessions, or the ability to use the Department of Conservation estate for commercial purposes, are secondary to that. That is fundamental to our approach to the Department of Conservation estate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EEssentially, what this bill does is make it harder for the Department of Conservation to protect those fundamental environmental or ecological values when it is considering applications to use the Department of Conservation estate for commercial purposes. For that reason we are voting against that amendment bill. When you think about it\u2014and I think this is where it applies to the kind of philosophical approach to regulation that Jonathan Young was outlining\u2014if we do not have regulations that fundamentally protect the Department of Conservation estate, if we do not have those regulations in place, then we will undermine the macro picture of what is one of the great opportunities or benefits that New Zealand has economically, which is our natural environment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003ELook at the tourism industry, which is totally built on clean, green New Zealand, and look at our primary produce exports, which are entirely built on a clean, green, and safe New Zealand. Those things are built on the environmental integrity or the perception of environmental integrity particularly associated with protecting the conservation estate. So if our regulatory framework does not fundamentally protect the conservation estate, then we will undermine our economy as well as undermine the biodiversity values that we think are important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EI mean, when you think about who the great builders of the New Zealand economy have been, actually it has been the greenies who, generation after generation, have protected the New Zealand environment. If you were to name one person who has made a huge contribution to the New Zealand economy, you could pick Kevin Smith, one of the campaigners who protected the West Coast of the South Island against the opposition of many of the Governments of New Zealand that wanted to allow the destruction of the West Coast environment. People like Kevin played a fundamental role in actually building the foundations of our economy, because by protecting the natural environment they basically protected the foundations of both the tourism industry and the primary production sector. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003ESo when we come to look at these kinds of regulatory reforms, if, as is the case in this bill, the regulatory reforms make it harder for the Department of Conservation to protect the conservation estate, essentially not only do they make it harder to protect the biodiversity values that are important to New Zealanders and to the New Zealand identity but they also make it harder to protect the foundation of the New Zealand economy. So for that reason we do not support those changes\u2014because they tilt the balance against protecting the natural environment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003ELooking at the philosophical approach to regulatory reform, if you do not have strong regulations that protect the natural environment, then you do not protect the foundations of our economy. And I think that that kind of short-term thinking is epitomised by the National Party in relation to this. National members think, oh well, a bit of environmental degradation for a bit of economic growth. That is fine. So we should have regulations that facilitate that. The Green Party takes a much more long-term approach, which says we need regulations that protect the natural environment for the long term, and not only does that protect the biodiversity and ecological values that are important to us but in the long term it also protects our economy, because our economy is built on our environment. So we need a strong regulatory framework to protect that environment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EThe second part of this regulatory reform legislation that I want to talk about is the amendments to the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Act. These are very good and important changes, and the Green Party is very pleased that these changes are here in the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill. There is a multitude of changes, but, basically, what they do is facilitate the ability of the credit unions to compete more effectively. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003ECredit unions are, I believe, an important part of the financial system in New Zealand. They provide a small but significant competition to some of the larger institutions. Because of the way that privatisation was run in the 1980s and 1990s we ended up with a banking sector that is extremely problematic and dominated by the Australian-owned banks. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EHaving the Australian-owned banks dominating the finance sector has been a real problem for New Zealand. It has been a problem in terms of competition\u2014it is only with the emergence of Kiwibank that we have had serious competition in the banking sector; the Australian-owned banks were acting in a monopolistic manner in reducing competition\u2014and it has also been a problem in terms of tax. The Australian-owned banks have been illegally and unlawfully avoiding tax. They unlawfully avoided $2 billion worth of tax, and the Government had to spend $50 million in court cases to get it back off them. So having the credit unions freed up so that they can compete better with the banks is important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EIt is, of course, important that we have proper prudential regulations in place, to make sure that the credit unions do operate in a way that is safe for their investors, but it is also important that they be freed up so they can at least be on a level playing field with the big banks, so that they can compete with them, and so that we do get some degree of competition in the banking and financial services sector, particularly for lower income New Zealanders so that they do not get ripped off by the big Australian banks, which, of course, has been the history since the extremely poor privatisations that happened in New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003ESo those are two pieces of legislation\u2014there is the bit around changing the rules around concessions and the commercial use of the Department of Conservation estate, which we do not support because they tilt the balance against the environment, and there are the amendments around the credit unions, which give them more of a chance to compete and are, I think, very, very good changes. So we will be supporting all the legislation except those changes around conservation. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eb49ee66-7ca7-472d-a4a1-b099fd594dfa\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002209f0bc5d6f26417f9c2f9d5bf2189967\u0022\u003ETabling of Documents\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e882ae37567b4592ab16c1e07fb1c637\u0022\u003ESchools, Charter\u2014Performance of Schools in New York\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002251dfea20-2244-4fc7-bd7d-ebf7a98580e1\u0022 data-id=\u0022181d0a23eccc435aba64acadaef238c6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002251dfea20-2244-4fc7-bd7d-ebf7a98580e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022181d0a23eccc435aba64acadaef238c6\u0022\u003EHon TAU HENARE (National):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just wanted to seek some assistance from you about the tabling of media articles. I refer to Speaker\u2019s ruling 148/4(3), and if I can have a bit of time I will read the last sentence: \u201CIt is not the intention, at all, to prevent the tabling of those, or, likewise, media articles from overseas publications that would not be readily available to members but would be relevant to them.\u201D I seek leave of the House to table a Wall Street Journal article dated 27 July this year, on charter schools.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022412d7ed2c3d7499c9a34656f28897d26\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: As the member is aware, it is our normal practice not to table media that are currently available, and given that the article is an international one, the House can determine. So I will put the question of leave. Leave is sought for that purpose\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022caaaec7edc334e7db95cf82e8c3226c5\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I just want to make sure it is not an online article. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002251dfea20-2244-4fc7-bd7d-ebf7a98580e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cbf909d48be24d8fb0359a5e018b38a1\u0022\u003EHon TAU HENARE\u003C/span\u003E: It is not online. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248de7dff76714c2ca704ee639cc94e4d\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! We are not going to have a conversation. I think the point has been made. I shall put the leave. Leave is sought to table an international document from an overseas news source. Is anyone opposed to that course of action? There is not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b1c3a5d950a5435ea4554dae47d65434\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022aa095e839092465e9b54076d5dc57ce2\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000486\u0022\u003EDebate resumed on the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill, the Animal Products Amendment Bill, the Companies Amendment Bill (No 2), the Conservation Amendment Bill, the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill, the Fisheries Amendment Bill, the Friendly Societies and Credit Unions Amendment Bill, the Radiocommunications Amendment Bill, the Registered Architects Amendment Bill, the Statistics Amendment Bill, the Takeovers Amendment Bill, the Unit Trusts Amendment Bill, the Wine Amendment Bill, and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022 data-id=\u00224737429614ab4208bfffc058a7e9bc34\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224737429614ab4208bfffc058a7e9bc34\u0022\u003EPeseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E It is a pleasure for me to take a final call on the legislation arising from the Regulatory Reform Bill, and I want to especially thank the Minister for Regulatory Reform, the Hon John Banks. He has been disparaged in this House this afternoon, but he has done tireless work to make New Zealand a better place to do business in, to make this country a better place to work in, and to make this country a better place to live in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003EThis legislation is about getting rid of unnecessary regulations, so that businesses can focus on core activities, grow the economy, and, in particular, grow the export economy. What does this legislation do? The legislation will amend 13 different Acts and bring some of the outdated Acts into the 21st century of doing business\u2014I will get to some of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003EAmendments to the Companies Act will enable companies to hold shareholder meetings over the internet, and also allow electronic voting. Companies domiciled here with connections overseas and across the country will be able to do business via telephone, videoconference, and, obviously, the internet. Not only does this reduce our carbon footprint but also it saves New Zealand companies a total of $1.5 million a year, going forward. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003EWe have also heard in the debate so far about changes to the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act. This will be done to modernise labelling. As we have heard from the Minister, this will reduce compliance costs by an estimated $1.3 million next year, and that figure will rise to $2 million per year by 2018. We also have changes to the Conservation Act, which will allow time limits to be set within which applications for concession, such as the permit to carry out activities in a conservation area, must be processed. These applications may be affected particularly during duck hunting season in this country. Changes to the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act, as I said last night in the debate, will save up to $50,000 per year\u2014medicines for the treatment of that world-renowned \u201CUgly Mallard\u201D species, which was last seen selling, scalping, tickets to teenagers in the Hutt Valley and which is otherwise known as \u201CTradeMe Trev\u201D. There are changes to the Radiocommunications Act, which will save around $46,000 per year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003EThese are great examples of what can be achieved by systematic and considered reform of regulations. It is good news for business, good news for consumers, and good news for our kids. The measures implemented under the National-led Government to cut red tape have so far contributed to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea6094bb1d3b426d8e713f90ee71c4e4\u0022\u003EHon Trevor Mallard\u003C/span\u003E: Did the member get that tie from Tony Ryall?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226156c945de814d959c364e5ece9e841f\u0022\u003EPeseta SAM LOTU-IIGA\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014an estimated $200 million per year. Let me repeat that for the scalper\u2014$200 million per year. Why is that important? Well, that money can be reinvested into those companies and be used for more productive outcomes. That money can be used to hire more staff, expand operations, and invest in research and development. It is also about putting more money back in the pockets of everyday New Zealanders, due to the reduced costs of production. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219bcf2ff-a193-4361-9072-813a4e36683c\u0022\u003EAs is clear from this legislation, high-quality regulation is a source of competitive advantage for our country. We want to take every advantage we can to grow the economy, reduce barriers to trade, and become more competitive internationally. Ultimately, it is about delivering a brighter, better, and bolder future for all New Zealanders, including our friends across the aisle and their families. I am proud that this John Key - led Government is continuing to do this, and I recommend this legislation to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022 data-id=\u002272c35fdbdaa44ac2bc51c838c8bdcc81\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002272c35fdbdaa44ac2bc51c838c8bdcc81\u0022\u003EJACINDA ARDERN (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E My call will be extraordinarily brief because, as I outlined last night, the change being made in this legislation to the provision in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act that is costing the film and music industry $50,000 a week epitomises, I think, the good that is in this legislation, but the bad continues to cloud us for any moment longer that we drag this legislation through the House. A total of $7 million is what the industry has suffered as a consequence of delayed legislation because of the fact that one simple word has not been changed. It is my hope that we see this legislation go through the House this evening. If it does not get through the House this evening, I would say it is on the National Government\u2019s head that another $50,000 a week of expense falls on the industry that it claims to support. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022aa2209f1-1889-4c24-b51d-cb2aedc7aa93\u0022\u003ESo that is my challenge to the members in this House tonight. If we truly believe in reforming regulation, then we will let this legislation pass this evening. I commend this legislation to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022 data-id=\u002232275ba616d447bdb612596b65c35c59\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002232275ba616d447bdb612596b65c35c59\u0022\u003EKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National):\u003C/span\u003E I stand to support the third readings of the legislation arising from the Regulatory Reform Bill, which was divided into 13 different bills, and the Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill. These bills in fact streamline frivolous red tape and bring order and regulation to the regulatory environment. The Government is strongly focused on assisting businesses by removing duplication, getting rid of unnecessary requirements, and clearing up irregularities, thereby raising economic growth and living standards. New Zealand businesses face enough challenges without having to grapple with the compliance costs caused by unnecessary regulations. The world is changing dramatically. It is highly competitive, and New Zealand needs to move with the times. It is vital that improved but essential legislation be set in place. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003EThe 13 bills amend 13 Acts and remove duplications, unnecessary requirements, and inconsistencies. Among the changes is a proposal to amend the Companies Act 1993 to allow companies to choose whether to use electronic shareholder participation. This could save New Zealand companies up to $1.5 million in total each year. Another change was to amend the Unit Trusts Act 1960 so that financial statements and accounts could be distributed electronically, and another to amend the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 to modernise labelling. That will reduce compliance costs by an estimated $2.4 million in the first year and $3.1 million in 5 years. Through the Regulatory Reform (Revocations) Order, 206 regulations will be repealed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226dc89bbf-c2ef-45c9-89e4-d2b5952d8d16\u0022\u003EThese are just three measures that will make enormous differences to New Zealand businesses. These changes are made in a single omnibus bill that amends all the affected Acts at the same time. The National-led Government promised it would review existing regulations in order to identify and remove requirements that are unnecessary, ineffective, and excessively costly. This saving will eventually be returned to the New Zealand economy, benefiting all concerned. I commend this legislation to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022 data-id=\u002226dad0775c104970b0eea94471548d76\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002226dad0775c104970b0eea94471548d76\u0022\u003EMARK MITCHELL (National\u2014Rodney):\u003C/span\u003E I am happy to take a call on the regulatory reform legislation. I would like to commend the Minister for Regulatory Reform, the Hon John Banks, for making sure that this legislation got the attention that it needed, and that it is in the House now for its third reading. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI would have to say that, really, this legislation is about helping our business community and our businesses\u2014the private sector. The future for my kids, the future for our kids, and the future for the next generations in New Zealand does not lie in the growth of our public sector; it lies in the growth of our private sector. It lies in the growth of our tradable and export sector. Anything that this Government can do to make those sectors more competitive and to give them a competitive advantage, we should be doing, and this regulatory reform legislation is about that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EI myself have been holding business forums for the last 8 months in my own electorate of Rodney, and the common theme that is coming through from all my local businesses\u2014whether they be small business, medium-sized business, exporters, or retailers\u2014is that we need to reduce red tape and regulation. This is exactly what this legislation is doing: it is reducing red tape and regulation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EHigh-quality regulation is a source of competitive advantage. We might scoff\u2014and I have heard scoffing from the other side\u2014at small gains in some areas, but every gain matters. A thousand dollars on the bottom line of a small business means something to it. It has an impact on its business. We might scoff at small gains, but let us remember that the overall impact of this legislation is maybe a $200 million saving within the economy annually. That is a fairly significant saving to our private sector. The growth in this country and the future of this country lie with our private sector, as I have said, and anything that we can do to help it, we must do to help it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003E We believe that better regulation and less regulation is essential to assist New Zealand to become more internationally competitive and a more attractive place to live and do business. We hear every day in this House\u2014week in, week out\u2014from Labour members talking about people having to leave New Zealand. Well, you know what? Let us support a bill that actually goes some way towards making more jobs and making more opportunities available to New Zealanders and Kiwis to come home, to come back to New Zealand, to get involved in business, to get involved in the economy, to bring their kids home, and to do something about the future and the growth of New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EWe have made improvements, among others, to the Resource Management Act, the electricity sector, the transport and communications sectors, and ACC. We are all aware that the Resource Management Act is something that can have a profound effect on businesses. I am sure that they all welcome the changes that are being made to ensure that they are more competitive. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThe 2009 Government Statement on Regulation made two major commitments: we will introduce new regulation only when we are satisfied that it is required, reasonable, and robust, and we will review existing regulation in order to identify and remove requirements that are unnecessary, ineffective, or excessively costly. This is another great thing that is happening through this regulatory reform legislation: we are getting rid of unnecessary, ineffective, and excessively costly regulation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248a02a21-c1ac-4159-8789-485ad614bd01\u0022\u003EThis legislation slashes red tape and it makes life easier for businesses. It contains amendments to 13 Acts, removing duplication, getting rid of unnecessary requirements, and clearing up inconsistencies with the aim of reducing compliance costs and regulatory burdens to businesses. New Zealand businesses face enough challenges without having to grapple with compliance costs caused by unnecessary regulation. I am very happy to commend this legislation. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022 data-id=\u0022c77d3a1a942c49e980d3cd6333da6b92\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c77d3a1a942c49e980d3cd6333da6b92\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: During the third reading debate the Greens indicated that they wished to vote against one of the bills. So I propose to put the bills in three parcels to allow that to happen.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003EAgricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill, Animal Products Amendment Bill, and Companies Amendment Bill (No 2) read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002283a93bcb9fc9469fade540f0e8c730ec\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Conservation Amendment Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 103\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 57; New Zealand Labour 34; New Zealand First 8; M\u0101ori Party 2; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 14\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EGreen Party 13; Mana 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000511\u0022\u003EFilms, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill, Fisheries Amendment Bill, Friendly Society and Credit Unions Amendment Bill, Radiocommunications Amendment Bill, Registered Architects Amendment Bill, Statistics Amendment Bill, Takeovers Amendment Bill, Unit Trusts Amendment Bill, Wine Amendment Bill, and Regulatory Reform (Repeals) Bill read a third time.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00226e511b3b1d2b459794c0bdedc535dfd2\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00226b396d529d63489791715b3dceb88e96\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022 data-id=\u00226236694dc20348dbafc4698366f7b8b7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c83012b4-3939-4753-80fc-1956a3e2bd1e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226236694dc20348dbafc4698366f7b8b7\u0022\u003EMICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Senior Whip\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E We have made excellent progress this afternoon. I seek leave for the House to adjourn 5 minutes early.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022 data-id=\u00221f8027276cc6426b8b7b2c7a8012cd75\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221f8027276cc6426b8b7b2c7a8012cd75\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there anyone opposed to that course of action? There appears not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 5.54 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id201208238367b55d36324344b829fbee2e8a2692000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"