11. CHRIS HIPKINS (Labour—Rimutaka) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy and Resources
How much funding has been granted to date under the Biodiesel Grants Scheme, and is he satisfied with the scheme’s progress?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Energy and Resources) Link to this
So far the figure granted is $230,332. I do not want to express either satisfaction or dissatisfaction with that. Rather, I wish to express my profound disappointment that an industry that promised so much has delivered so little despite such an extraordinary available subsidy.
How many of the 240 jobs he claimed in May last year would be created by the Biodiesel Grants Scheme have actually eventuated, particularly given that only five companies have signed up for the scheme, no new companies have signed up since July last year, and less than $230,000 of the $36 million has actually been taken up?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
As I said, I am extremely disappointed by the failure of this industry to respond to the Government’s stimulus. I think the fact that it has failed serves as testimony to the mistruths put in front of this House by the member and his colleagues.
Does he stand by his statement in the House that there is no doubt that biofuels will play a big part in our energy mix in the future; if so, what is his response to Ecodiesel chairperson—
Mr SPEAKERI am on my feet. Whoever interjected just then is lucky; I could not see who it was. All of us at times get a frog in our throats and lose our voices. I invite the member to have a drink of water, and I invite members to give him a reasonable chance to ask his question.
Does he stand by his statement to the House that there is no doubt that biofuels will play a big part in our energy mix in the future; if so, what is his response to Ecodiesel chairperson Lindsay Fergusson’s comment that the scheme will work only for small-scale producers and those who “are not the future of the bio-diesel industry in New Zealand.”?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I stand by my statement that bio-diesel will play a bigger role in the future, simply because I think that that is what will happen. I do not put a time frame on that. The reality is that if people do not buy the product, we cannot sell it. That is the problem the industry has. It has failed to sell the product.
Why should the public of New Zealand have any confidence in anything that this Minister says when his Biodiesel Grants Scheme has been a total flop, the revised Energy Strategy he has been promising for 18 months has not eventuated, his Electricity Industry Bill has been panned by critics, and his plan to mine national parks has been left in tatters; or is this just the usual standard of ministerial performance people can expect under a National Government?
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE Link to this
I think the crackly voice performance we heard from the member before indicates that he is a very young man, and none of what he said is true.