9. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) Link to this
to the Prime Minister
Does he stand by his statement to Investigate magazine in March that “the select committee that has been set up, that will review our ETS legislation and come up with recommendations for potential changes …”?
Hon JOHN KEYJeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
Which one of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee’s terms of reference asks it to come up with recommendations for potential changes to the emissions trading scheme legislation?
The whole purpose of having the select committee is to consider what the appropriate climate change response is that the Government should adopt. The Government is working hard with all parties, actually, and the submitters to try to find the appropriate response so that New Zealand can balance both its economic opportunities and its environmental responsibilities.
Jeanette Fitzsimons Link to this
If the Prime Minister is unable to find in the terms of reference anything that directs the select committee to actually consider the legislation or amendments to it, has he discussed with his coalition partner the ACT Party which is the greater hoax: climate change or an Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee that is not tasked with reviewing the emissions trading scheme?
I will repeat my answer to the first question. The whole purpose of the select committee is to come up with a response that the Government thinks is the right response to the long-term problem of climate change.
Charles ChauvelCan the Prime Minister confirm that consideration of alignment of our scheme with Australia’s is a term of reference of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee; if so, can he confirm that the Australian Government’s position on alignment of its scheme with New Zealand’s was set out in public by Australian officials at the select committee yesterday—namely, that in order to link with Australia’s scheme, New Zealand will have to either take whatever price exists at any time on the Australian carbon market, or wait until Australia gives 5 years’ notice of an intention to link with New Zealand’s emissions trading scheme?
I cannot confirm whether it is a term of reference of the select committee; I can confirm, though, that I think it makes sense, if it is possible, for New Zealand’s climate change response to be aligned with that of Australia. I would have thought that that member would think so, as well, given the fact that New Zealand gives fairly bipartisan support to CER. It does the same to the single economic market. I cannot, for the life of me, see why we would want to develop different climate change responses on either side of the Tasman; it could lead to perverse outcomes, and the wrong incentives being faced on either side of the Tasman.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The question I asked was whether the Prime Minister could confirm the very clear position set out by Australian officials yesterday in describing the Australian Government’s position, which was that we either take the price it offers or wait 5 years to come in. I would like the Prime Minister to address the question of whether he understands that that is the position New Zealand is in.
The member needs to go back and look at his own Hansard. His very first question was about whether it was a term of reference, and I addressed that directly.
Mr SPEAKER