1. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does she stand by her statement that New Zealand “could aim to be carbon neutral”?
Did she seek advice from the Ministry for the Environment about the feasibility of making New Zealand carbon neutral before she made this statement; if so, what was this advice?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
No. I am pleased to say I am not utterly dependent on others for what I think.
Is it normal practice for this Prime Minister to make announcements of such significance without seeking advice from her own climate change officials, and does this scant regard for what officials tell her provide a useful explanation of why she has had to abandon her other promise of getting New Zealand into the top half of the OECD?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
It is normal practice to set out one’s aspirations to a Labour Party conference without seeking official advice.
Has she seen the information released this morning by Statistics New Zealand showing that in the year ended September hydro and wind generation provided the lowest proportion of electricity generation since records began in 1961, and on the basis of this information how can she possibly claim that her Government has a goal of becoming carbon neutral?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Presumably the member would prefer, when there is a shortage of rain, that we not fire up the Huntly station.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Recognising that international scientific opinion agrees that very major reductions in carbon emissions—such as a reduction of 60 percent by 2030—are needed to prevent climate disaster, will the Prime Minister set targets and dates for reducing our emissions that aim towards that ultimate goal of carbon neutrality?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The Government has a range of proposals coming out, including within the next 2 weeks. We look forward to the new era of bipartisanship that the new Leader of the Opposition has promised in working on these issues, and to National working constructively—as the Greens have always done—on these issues with the Government.
Hon Peter DunneIn the light of that answer, is the Prime Minister prepared to consider convening a summit meeting of all political parties with a view on this subject, so that the decisions that New Zealand arrives at regarding future climate change policy, and carbon neutrality in particular, are decisions that all parties can sign up to, rather than decisions promoted by just a few?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I believe that there is, increasingly, some scope for multiparty discussion. I would like to suggest to the member, in response to his suggestion and to others, that we look at holding a meeting early in the new year at which people are certainly welcome to put their ideas on the table, and at which the Government is prepared to share with others the very substantial amount of information it has.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
I seek leave to table a document called Turn Down the Heat, which the Green Party launched last March when it first called for a cross-party accord on climate change.
What is the approximate date at which the Prime Minister thinks New Zealand will become carbon neutral if we keep following her Government’s policies of burning ever-increasing amounts of coal while chopping down more trees than we plant?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
A lot earlier than those who are still in climate change denial—like that member—would ever reach it.
Why, as a Prime Minister with the stated goal of making New Zealand carbon neutral, did she do nothing to advance hydro projects like Dobson or Aqua, yet signed off on an State-owned enterprise burning more coal and firing up a new power plant at the Marsden B facility?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
As I told the previous, short-lived, leader of the National Party, a desire for renewables is not in itself an excuse for environmental vandalism. We are committed to more renewables. We will facilitate that through a proper process.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Does the Prime Minister think that rapid expansion of the motorway network, while the rail system and public transport investment still lag woefully behind those of other countries, is compatible with achieving carbon neutrality; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I am happy to advise the member that public transport spending under this Government is up by around 900 percent on where the last—and we hope it was the last—National Government had it. Secondly, of course the rail system, particularly in Auckland, will need considerable investment. Knowing Auckland, I expect it will be looking to the Government to help.
If the Prime Minister wants to be taken at her word as being committed to having more renewable energy in this country, maybe she would like to tell the country why we are now burning three times more coal to produce electricity than we were in 1999, why today Statistics New Zealand released information that shows that renewables are at the lowest level of energy production since 1961, and why we are chopping down more trees than we are planting; is it not a fact that when it comes to this Prime Minister, the country should not listen to her rhetoric but should just look at her record?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
The member might reflect on the fact that 2006 was a rather drier year than 1999. Secondly, he might reflect on the fact that virtually all the major projects coming on stream are renewable projects. Finally, if the member wants to be taken at his word, then I will take him at his word when he said in this House that he is not even sure whether climate change is a problem. I ask Mr Key what has changed.
Rodney HideWhat specific work, if any, has the Prime Minister sought from officials to understand what it would take, what it would cost, and when it could be achieved, for New Zealand to be carbon neutral?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Officials are certainly working on that issue. Carbon neutrality is the aspiration, and, frankly, if National members want to talk about bipartisanship on climate change, they had better put some substance into it and get with it, rather than just saying what they think will please the focus groups.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think you know what I will ask. My specific question was what specific work the Prime Minister has commissioned. What I heard back from the Prime Minister was that officials are working on it. Well, they are probably working on lots of things. My question was what specific work she has commissioned.
Madam SPEAKERAs I recall, the question was asking about some specific issues—the member is quite right. The response was that, yes, officials are working on all those issues. So the question in that sense was addressed.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
Seeing as the Dobson project has been put at issue here, does the Prime Minister recall what the multiparty position on the Dobson project was, and, in particular, what certain members in the House said about it back then?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
I do not recall bipartisanship on the Dobson project, but I do recall National Party members campaigning against Project Aqua.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
I seek leave of the House to have the Climate Change (Government Vehicle Procurement) Bill, a member’s bill in my name, introduced and set down for first reading, as a first small step towards carbon neutrality.
Sue BradfordI seek leave of the House to have the Climate Change (New Zealand Superannuation Fund) Bill, a member’s bill in my name, introduced and set down for first reading.
Metiria TureiI seek leave of the House to have the Climate Change (Airline Emissions) Bill, a member’s bill in my name, introduced and set down for first reading.
Sue KedgleyI seek leave of the House to have the Climate Change (Rail Electrification) Bill, which would require the systematic electrification of the rail network, and is a member’s bill in my name, to be introduced and set down for first reading.
Keith LockeI think the House will like this one. I seek leave of the House to have the Climate Change (National Land Transport Fund and Financial Assistance Rate) Amendment Bill, a member’s bill in my name, set down for a first reading.
Nandor TanczosIn the interests of a cross-party approach to climate change, I seek the leave of the House for the Climate Change (Electricity Fixed Charges) Bill, a member’s bill in my name, to be introduced and set down for its first reading.
Rt Hon Winston Peters Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is surely not an acceptable practice to come down to this House, mention bills that no other parliamentary party has seen, put them up for a fast track, and waste Parliament’s time. This practice is unprecedented, and those members should be asked to desist and get on with questions.
Darren HughesDid the Government receive any support from any political parties for the Dobson or Aqua schemes when they were mooted publicly?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK Link to this
Colleagues do suggest that the Hon Nick Smith may have taken a position against Dobson, and that Katherine Rich may have taken a position against Project Aqua.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I seek the leave of the House to correct the Prime Minister and table the five news releases that I issued on behalf of the National Party that strongly supported the Dobson hydro scheme.