11. Dr CAM CALDER (National) Link to this
to the Minister for the Environment
What decisions has the Government made in response to concerns from local government and business groups that resource management regulations on air quality unfairly target industry and would put thousands of New Zealanders out of work?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for the Environment) Link to this
There is a serious disconnect in the current air-quality regulations. Although 60 to 80 percent of the problem comes from home fires, only industry faces any penalty if the standard is not met by 2013. These regulations reflect the anti-business culture of the previous Government: even if it is not businesses’ fault, they get the punishment. The implications are very serious. Over 100 businesses would be prohibited from renewing their consents, putting over 17,000 fellow New Zealanders out of work. The Government has decided to change the regulations, to provide a more balanced and practical approach. This approach includes tighter rules on home fires and an early requirement for industry to reduce pollution, without the arbitrary penalty that would put so many people out of work.
How many households have received Government assistance to convert to clean-air home heating in the last 2 years, and how does this figure compare with support provided in previous years, noting that if we are serious about reducing smog, the key is to convert open fires and old, dirty log burners in polluted areas?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The member is quite correct that the most important issue in making progress on air quality is about converting those old household fires to clean technology. This Government is very proud of its record. We have invested over $16 million in converting 20,000 households in 2 years—or 10,000 per year. This figure compares with just 100 households per year over the previous 9 years. We have, in fact, made progress at 100 times the rate of the previous Government. We are making progress at 100 times the rate in converting home fires. I expect this rate of conversion to accelerate with the good work that my colleague is doing in Christchurch in the recovery from the earthquake, where up to $100 million will be spent on clean heaters to replace the chimneys damaged in the Christchurch earthquake.
What response has there been to the changes that the Government has made to the air-quality standards?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The changes that the Government has made have been welcomed by Local Government New Zealand, by mayors, by councils, by industry—
Hon Maryan StreetHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The member mentions Nelson. I challenge her to compare the record of how many homes this Government has converted with the previous Government’s record. I note the very positive editorial in the Christchurch Press. Even the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment said the previous Government’s rules were unfair and would not work. I particularly note and highlight the comments of air-quality experts, who refer to the fact that even moving from the 30 exceedances per year in many communities to one exceedance by 2013 was near to impossible. But to get down to three by 2016 and one by 2020 will require considerable change.
Rahui KateneWhat requirements is industry expected to address in order to reduce emissions, and what progress is he able to report on its compliance with such measures?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
One of the changes that the Government has announced is that on 1 September next year, each industry will be required to offset its emissions—that is, to fund the conversion of households in order to more than offset the emissions from its own industry. In our view, providing the financial incentive for industry to positively contribute to less pollution is a more sensible approach than just putting 17,000 New Zealanders on the unemployment heap by making those industries have to close.
Hon Annette KingHon Dr NICK SMITH Link to this
The deputy leader of the Labour Party claimed I had simply made up the numbers. I seek leave to table the Cabinet paper that shows the details of the 17,000 jobs that would be lost under Labour’s regulations.
Mr SPEAKER