7. Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) Link to this
to the Leader of the House
What is the Government’s timetable for passing the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill; and will the second reading be held during this parliamentary session?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House) Link to this
The Government’s timetable for this bill is for it to be passed in 2008. As this parliamentary session must end by 6 October by law, we are aiming to hold the second reading and remaining stages before then.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
What changes is the Government prepared to make to the bill to address the major flaws that have been identified by the Green Party in order to secure its support?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
As Leader of the House I am responsible for the timetabling of the legislation; I am not responsible for its content. That is the responsibility of the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
My question was set down for the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues. It is the Government that transferred the question to the Leader of the House. I thus seek leave to ask the same supplementary question, which Dr Cullen says he is not able to answer it, of the Minister, David Parker, who I am sure would be delighted to answer it.
Madam SPEAKERHon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Why was the Finance and Expenditure Committee given only 3 days to consider over 1,000 amendments to this important legislation, on the basis that the Government urgently wanted it to be returned to the House, when the bill has subsequently sat on the Order Paper for 7 weeks without any progress?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The first part of that question, of course, is not the responsibility of the Leader of the House. It was a matter for the select committee. As to the second part of the question, I am sure the member is aware that at this point the Government does not have sufficient support to pass the bill.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Will the Government agree to refer the bill back to the select committee, given that it is obvious it is going nowhere before the House—because I think we all agree it is crucial for New Zealand that we get the best-designed emissions trading scheme possible—and furthermore, given that over 1,000 amendments were given and the select committee had only 3 days to consider them, the select committee could well use this time to do the job properly?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It is clear from the statements made by the National Party that it wants to pass a bill that does nothing, does not affect anybody, and makes no impact upon the economy, but that can be said to do something about climate change. That is not the Government’s intention.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question to the Leader of the House was not about National’s view, which is quite rational about climate change and emissions trading—[ Interruption] So those members can yabber during points of order, Madam Speaker?
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
My point of order concerned a specific question that asked whether the Government will refer the bill back to the select committee, given that we had so little time to consider such major changes. All I got was a recital on a misrepresentation of National’s policy.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
What assurance can the Minister give that, given the importance of this legislation, we will have the opportunity to have the second reading during the course of this 3-week sitting period?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Government has a considerable amount of work to do during this 3-week sitting, not the least of which, of course, is that we have to finish the Appropriation Bill. The Leader of the House is particularly and acutely conscious of the need to finish the Appropriation Bill during this session.
Hon Dr Nick Smith Link to this
Is the reason that the Prime Minister has been pussyfooting around the misconduct of Winston Peters that the Government is so desperate to get support for this bill?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have a very long political memory in the case of Prime Ministers and Parliament, going back to November 1981. I do not recall her pussyfooting at any time during that period.