8. CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
Does the Minister still agree with the recently reported joint statements with the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues that “We take energy efficiency very, very seriously” and “I am very keen that more New Zealanders become aware of how they can save energy,”; if so, what policies is he promoting to support New Zealanders to do just that?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) Link to this
Yes, my opinion has not changed from a day ago, when those comments were reported in the Christchurch Press. The Government has supported, and continues to support, a large number of projects designed to encourage energy efficiency.
When will the Minister’s new-found enthusiasm for energy efficiency translate into support for Labour’s proposal to better insulate homes across New Zealand, a measure that will not only increase energy efficiency but also improve New Zealanders’ health and create much-needed jobs for this country?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
This is one of those programmes that never existed. The Labour Government hoodwinked the nation, hoodwinked the Green Party, put together some sort of murky idea, and went out to the voters, and, do members know what? Anybody who wanted to insulate his or her home would have been just like Mother Hubbard and found the cupboard was bare. Those members never funded it.
Chris AuchinvoleHon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority has a large number of worthwhile programmes. To name just a few, there is the energy intensive - business project, which offers cash grants to help businesses to adopt energy-saving technologies; energy-efficiency star ratings are available for consumers to make choices about good appliance purchases; and there is the $1,000 grant for solar hot-water installation, as well. I have directed officials from the authority and the Ministry of Economic Development to identify further opportunities to make energy efficiency gains across all sectors of our economy. Unlike our opponents opposite, we will make sure that those programmes, when announced, are funded.
Which of the following two people is right about energy efficiency: the Minister’s colleague Nick Smith, who said the Government is supportive of Earth Hour, or the Minister’s own political adviser, who announced via a social networking site last week that he would be turning his lights on during Earth Hour and who publicly encouraged everyone else to do the same as him?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
Fortunately, I can report that cyberspace is a place of great mystery to me, and I have no idea what young people get up to when they are digging around in an area. What I can tell the member is that in my case, every light was turned off in my home. All the switches were off, and I was at AMI Stadium enjoying the rugby, along with many others. It was a great night for the Crusaders, and while we are on that topic—
Mr SPEAKERDoes not the Minister’s continued opposition to the energy efficiency measures proposed by Labour, coupled with the publicly stated attitude of his own staff—hand-picked—help to demonstrate that the Government’s claim to support energy efficiency is just a public relations exercise?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
The member asked me at the start of this question, in the primary question, to confirm my statements supporting energy efficiency. I have done that, and I do support it. What is more, far from just going out there with some sort of a pipedream, like Labour did before the last election, National will soon be announcing a range of energy-efficiency measures for the economy, and they will be funded. We do not think that slogans are enough; we think that action is very, very important.
I seek leave—so that the Minister can see what goes on in cyberspace—to table the relevant statements from Facebook for him.