10. Hon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader—National) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Transport
Does she stand by her statement that the vehicle fuel economy standard is an important initiative to assist the Government in achieving its transport strategy goals, its Energy Strategy goals, and its climate change goals?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Associate Minister of Transport) Link to this
Yes, and I would note that that is also National’s A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand discussion document policy. Mr English may not have realised this, as he is new to the transport portfolio, but the policy discussion paper that he is so excited about, Improving the fuel economy of vehicles entering the New Zealand fleet: A discussion paper for public comment, was published in January 2008.
Can the Associate Minister confirm that Labour’s car tax next year will add a tax of $900 to a Honda Accord, a tax of $4,650 to a Toyota Hiace, and a tax of $10,200 to a Holden Commodore, so that by 2015 that family car will be bearing a tax of $16,800; and does that show any concern for the cost to motorists?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
No. Ministers do not favour, and have never favoured, the option that Mr English is focusing on—to place a fee on inefficient vehicles. That is National Party policy, as stated on page 5 of A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand, where National states: “Providing incentives for more fuel-efficient imported vehicles, financed through penalties for inefficient vehicles,”.
Hon Dr Michael Cullen Link to this
Can the Associate Minister confirm that the penalty for inefficient vehicles, as proposed by the Business Council for Sustainable Development and referred to in A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand Discussion paper by Hon Dr Nick Smith MP, was $2,000 per vehicle?
Is the Associate Minister of Transport pleased that the Labour Government has put so much faith in her that throughout the election campaign she will be justifying to New Zealanders taxes of up to $10,000 on family vehicles?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
At no stage has any Minister proposed that. Bill English cannot hide National’s embarrassment about proposing a toll of $60 a week on every Aucklander for its supposed roading project. That is what he will have to justify during the election campaign.
Can the Associate Minister tell us why, if no Minister has proposed a tax of $16,000 on a Holden Commodore, she signed the foreword of the document that laid out these proposals, which claims that this proposal was critical not just to the carbon reduction strategy but also to the Energy Strategy and a number of other strategies that, apparently, the Government wants to execute?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The rest of the world is introducing rules to improve the efficiency of cars entering fleets. If New Zealand is not careful, we will end up being the dumping ground for dross that is no longer acceptable in most other countries. This Government is trying to save money for New Zealanders at the petrol pump, and to make sure we have clean air to breathe. What is wrong with that?
Lesley SoperHon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
Yes. Bill English has proposed a policy that would introduce a $2,000 penalty on inefficient new cars, as announced on page 5 of National’s A Bluegreen Vision for New Zealand, which was released in October 2006. National described the introduction of financial penalties as “common sense” and “practical measures that New Zealand could be taking”. I compare that statement with Bill English’s behaviour yesterday, when he claimed that the Government had approved a stealth tax, when we had done no such thing. National is being two-faced. It is becoming a complete pantomime every day. I feel sorry for John Key, who has found out that, as Brian Rudman says, when teaching old dogs new tricks, playing dead should be one of them.
Madam SPEAKERWould the Associate Minister promise to actively campaign in Auckland Central, so that we can win it, and will that campaign—
Hon Harry Duynhoven Link to this
You complain readily enough when flippant questions are asked, so why do you go and ask stupid ones yourself?
Just because Harry’s now polling behind someone we put up 6 weeks ago! I say to him that he is going to be well up the list; he should not worry—it will be fine. Does the Associate Minister intend to carry out the Prime Minister’s wish to make sustainability the core of Labour’s election campaign, and is it her intention to do a pamphlet drop to every household in New Zealand to advertise Labour’s plans to impose taxes of over $10,000 on family vehicles; and is that the kind of strategy she expects is going to win her Auckland Central?
Hon JUDITH TIZARD Link to this
The discussion paper that was released by the Government, which believes in open debate, called Improving the fuel economy of vehicles entering the New Zealand fleet, had submissions made on it that indicated that no one thinks the status quo is an option. If the National Party wants to campaign on inefficient vehicles that cost New Zealanders fuel, and time, and air quality, then it should campaign on that. I am serious about indicating to New Zealanders that increasing fuel economy means that they have options to buy vehicles that will save them money and save them from sickness and death. These options are about open government, not hidden agendas.