1. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy
Does he agree with the statement today by electricity commissioner Roy Hemmingway: “I can only conclude that I am being removed from office because I stood up to the government as an independent regulator should. I have insisted that regulatory decisions be on the basis of law and the facts and not on what politicians want.” and his further statement that the politicisation of the Electricity Commission by the Government will hurt both electricity investors and consumers; if so, why has the Government abused its powers and interfered with the work of the Electricity Commission?
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Energy) Link to this
No, I do not. The commissioner has served his full 3-year term, in accordance with the terms of his appointment. Neither Mr Hemmingway nor anyone else in his position has an automatic right to appointment for a second term. It is true that Mr Hemmingway has competently overseen a complex and heavy workload at the commission, for which I thank him. Nevertheless it is also true that a dysfunctional relationship between the Electricity Commission and Transpower has developed, which the Government has moved to resolve through changes on both sides of the divide. We have chosen to do that for the benefit of the electricity system as a whole and of consumers throughout New Zealand.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
What does it say about this Government’s respect for independent statutory officers, when the Prime Minister dismisses the views of the Auditor-General and he sacks an electricity commissioner for standing up to the Government; is that not proof of the adage that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely?
The commissioner has not been sacked. The commissioner has served his 3-year term. I repeat that given the dysfunctional relationship between the Electricity Commission and Transpower, the Government has moved to advance that issue through changes on both sides of the divide.
Madam SPEAKERHon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek leave of the House to table the statement from Mr Roy Hemmingway, which contradicts the statement put out also by the Minister and points out the interference and the confusion there is in policies, and how electricity investors and consumers will lose from that.