Brown Peter: Electricity and Gas Industries Bill — In Committee 
Brown Peter: Electricity and Gas Industries Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:620;Page:15849] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 It is some time since this bill was last debated in Parliament and I have to say that I am a little bit rusty particularly on Part 3. But I listened with interest to the Hon Roger Sowry because he has been making some quite relevant and pertinent points in the debate on the whole legislation. I know he has taken the issue very very seriously. I hope I have not misunderstood him but he seemed to imply at least to me that the Genesis gas-fired plant being proposed at Huntly should have gone through the process of consultation with the Electricity Commission or the Commerce Commission. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: Yes—the Electricity Commission. 
PETER BROWN 
: I thought that was what he was driving at. I have to say that New Zealand First does not agree with that. I might be wrong and I have looked desperately through this part to try to find— 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: The Government guarantee. 
PETER BROWN 
: Ah! Well maybe I can comment on our view of the Government guarantee in terms of the Huntly power station. My understanding is that the Government has guaranteed that if there is not gas available after the year 2012 for that power station then it will pay Genesis some compensation. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: How much? 
PETER BROWN 
: I do not know. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: It’s your money and my money. 
PETER BROWN 
: Indeed but I suggest to the honourable member that if we do not have any gas by the year 2012 to supply Genesis in order to produce electricity then we might have much bigger problems to worry about than whether Genesis gets any compensation or at what level the compensation is. 
New Zealand First welcomes the building of that power station by Genesis. I understand it is going to be on line by 2007 and it will add something like 362 megawatts to the grid. I see the officials nodding so I have got it right—and that is all from memory! We are very pleased. We think that it is an initiative this country can do with and that we should be applauding Genesis for its move rather than criticising it. But I am glad the Hon Roger Sowry has clarified the point he was making. 
We want an independent Commerce Commission and as far as we can have it an independent Electricity Commission. We do not see that that raises the concerns that Rodney Hide mentioned in terms of stifling that independence. 
I am looking now at new section 57DD “Procedure before jurisdiction order can be made” inserted by clause 31. It refers to the transfer of jurisdiction in respect of Transpower or other electricity lines businesses. It states that the Minister has to consult with representatives of industry participants and representatives of consumers. We think that is fairly reasonable; we do not see anything harsh in that. The clause goes on to state that the minister has to consult with the Electricity Commission and the Commerce Commission and to seek a recommendation from them. We believe that that is reasonable. We think that the Minister should be obliged to get a recommendation from the Electricity Commission before he or she does anything with Transpower lines or with any other large electricity lines businesses. 
Perhaps Government members or even the Minister can take a call and tell us where there is a possible threat to the independence of the Commerce Commission because on looking through this part I cannot find any. I cannot recall before the recent adjournment break being aware that there was a threat to its independence and I cannot find it readily now. If it is there it is a major concern but I am not aware of where it is. 
In fact the more I read this part the more likely I think it is that New Zealand First might be able to support it even if we cannot support anything else. I cannot see a threat to the independence of the Commerce Commission and I cannot readily see a threat to the independence of the Electricity Commission. Maybe the Minister can advise me whether I am right or wrong whether Mr Hide is right or wrong or indeed whether the position is somewhere midway. It seems to me that the clauses in this part are right and proper and they outline the authority that the Minister has.