Boscawen John: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Boscawen John: Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 November 2009. Volume:659;Page:7977. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
: 
 I have been very disappointed in the performance in this House from the Minister for Climate Change Issues Dr Nick Smith on the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill. Last night in answer to allegations by Jeanette Fitzsimons that this bill generated no net savings in emissions Dr Smith quite correctly stood up and raised four or five examples of how this bill will reduce emissions. In my view everything Dr Smith said was absolutely correct. However this morning we heard from Dr Smith a statement that we should be concerned about the recession. He said that we have a recession and unless we pass this bill electricity will be going up by 10 percent on 1 January. Dr Smith and the National Government know that that is absolutely incorrect. The ACT Party opposes this bill and we do so because it is being rushed through before the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. There is no need to do that. 
We oppose this bill because it is based in part on following Australia. Australia is not finalised. We oppose this bill because our key trading partner the United States has not made any formal binding commitment and this bill will put our trade-exposed industry at risk. The ACT Party offered the National Government support in legislation to defer the introduction of the effective date of Labour’s emissions trading scheme. For Dr Smith and the National Government to hide behind this bill as the reason for having to postpone the electricity price increase is nothing more than dishonest. 
Last night Dr Smith said that he was enjoying this debate. He commented in particular on the comments of Chris Hipkins on electricity. Dr Smith said that if we remove the two-for-one discount New Zealanders will pay more for their electricity. Dr Smith is absolutely correct. If we remove the two for one discount New Zealanders will pay more for their electricity. Under this bill that discount is removed on 1 January 2013. The Labour emissions trading scheme that was passed last year would have a 10 percent increase in electricity from 1 January. The National Party proposed that we reduce that increase in electricity from 10 percent to 5 percent and then institute that full increase of 10 percent before 1 January 2013. I stand in this House this morning as one of five ACT MPs the only MPs in this Parliament who are prepared to stand up and ask why we are increasing the price of electricity by 10 percent from 2013. 
Last night the House heard from Hekia Parata who is a distinguished former public servant in New Zealand. She said that the Maori Party and National should be proud of supporting this bill. I ask Hekia Parata how the National Party and the Maori Party can be proud of supporting a bill that will increase the price of electricity by 10 percent from 2013. How can they be proud? We have heard debate as to whether we allocate fishing quota to the fishermen or to the quota holders. We could argue that is irrelevant; it does not matter. We are talking about only 2½ years of allocations. Dr Smith wrote the National Party minority report on Labour’s emissions trading scheme legislation last year. He said the fishing industry was trade-exposed and energy-intensive and he questioned why we would not extend support to the fishing industry beyond 2013. He has the chance to do that now and he is choosing not to do it. I again ask Hekia Parata how she National and the Maori Party can be proud to tax the fishing industry $15 million from 1 January 2013. How can they be proud? The ACT Party stands up and represents all New Zealanders who are facing a 10 percent electricity price increase from 1 January 2013.