5. Question No. 5—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of TransportQuestion No. 5—Transport5. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Associate Minister of Transport: Does page 44 of the Government's discussion document titled Moving the light vehicle fleet to low-emissions: discussion paper on a Clean Car Standard and Clean Car Discount" indicate that a 2013 Suzuki Swift would receive an $800 subsidy under the Clean Car Discount proposal and what does the Rightcar website say is the driver protection star rating for a 2013 Suzuki Swift? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Transport): The table on page 44 of the Government's discussion document lists a 2013 Suzuki Swift as having tailpipe emissions that could receive an $800 discount. But as I said yesterday this is only an example of the cars that are already on the road in New Zealand not the cars that will be imported post-2020. I'm advised that the Rightcar website identifies 37 model variants of the 2013 Suzuki Swift. Some of these model variants are not rated. Some of the cars have a one-star rating; some have a two-star rating. I note that other 2013 vehicle models identified in the discussion document as having low enough tailpipe emissions to receive a discount have a variety of star ratings. For example safety star ratings for the 2013 Toyota Corolla range from one star to five stars. The same applies to the Nissan Tiida while others are completely unrated. Chris Bishop: Why did she say yesterday "You cannot give a one-star rating." when the Rightcar website has a whole range of cars—as she's just said—listed by make model and year with one star? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: As I just said the same vehicle model and make from a particular year has a variety of star ratings and in some cases is not rated on that website. Chris Bishop: So does she concede that it is possible under the Government's clean-car discount proposal for cars that receive a discount to be one- and two-star - rated? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: No final decisions have been made on the Government's clean-car proposal. Hon David Parker: It's for new cars not old ones. Chris Bishop: It's for used cars as well. SPEAKER: All right that's one supplementary gone from the member. [Interruption] Well he hadn't started. Hon Member: Behave. Behave. SPEAKER: Right well that comment which was directed at me has resulted in that supplementary being scrubbed and the members are allowed to ask it and an additional one for the National Party. Chris Bishop: Has the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) raised with her the desire to not apply the "feebate" for electric cars to one- and two-star - rated cars? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: The New Zealand Transport Agency as I said yesterday did raise concerns about any conflicts between promoting safer cars and promoting low-emissions vehicles. I disagree with the characterisation that it was raised with me as a desire not to apply the discount to certain cars. The Ministry of Transport has advised me that they have a number of concerns about the NZTA's proposal to use star ratings as the basis for New Zealand's vehicle regulatory regime because the data used to inform star ratings—particularly for the used-car safety ratings—is not sufficiently comprehensive or robust enough to support regulation especially any particular legal challenge. Not all cars are rated and therefore we are pursuing measures like electronic stability control (ESC) which will apply to all used cars imported from 2020. The Rightcar website notes that cars with electronic stability control which will be mandatory for used cars from next year are a "safer choice". Chris Bishop: Why did she say yesterday when I asked her the exact same question—has the Transport Agency raised with her the desire to not apply the "feebate" for electric cars to one- and two-star - rated cars—"No."? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I think if the member looks closely at the transcript yesterday I did say that the New Zealand Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport had raised concerns about conflicts between promoting safer vehicles and low-emissions vehicles but that they're actively working on solutions to that— Hon Dr Nick Smith: The Minister misled us. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: —and the Government has articulated an absolute commitment to a lower-emissions fleet and a safer fleet as well as safer roads. Hon Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I don't believe that the interjection by Dr Smith is within order in the House. SPEAKER: Well I—unfortunately—think it was. Carry on Julie Anne Genter. Hon Member: There you go. SPEAKER: It didn't indicate that it was deliberate which is the offence. Misleading accidentally is not a breach of privilege; it just requires a correction. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: I've finished my answer. SPEAKER: Has the Minister finished? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: Yes. Chris Bishop: Does she recall yesterday on at least two occasions in response to my supplementary questions saying words to the effect of "if I was briefed" thus giving the distinct impression she denied being briefed or having the issue of the "feebate" for electric cars to one- and two-star - rated cars raised with her by the Transport Agency? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: If the member looks carefully at the transcript from the beginning I said that I was aware of concerns raised by the NZTA. What was not made to me directly from NZTA was a recommendation or desire to exclude certain cars from the "feebate" scheme based on their star rating. Chris Bishop: Will she correct her answers yesterday in light of the new information that she has just disclosed to the House which is the acceptance that the Transport Agency raised with her the desire to not apply the "feebate" for electric cars to one- and two-star - rated cars? SPEAKER: No sorry I think if the member had listened to the previous answer he wouldn't have asked that question. I will let the Minister answer but the member should—one of the things about question time is that it is dynamic and the member's question was answered in the previous supplementary. Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: As I said earlier I disagreed with the characterisation in the board minute but I absolutely agreed yesterday as I have today that they raised concerns with the ministry and raised concerns that we do work to ensure that our promoting low-emissions vehicles would not result in a proliferation of unsafe vehicles on the road. And in fact we can have safe vehicles that are also low-emissions vehicles happily. Hon James Shaw: What other vehicle safety initiatives does the Government have to reduce the risk of unsafe cars being imported into New Zealand? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER: There is a very wide-ranging work programme in the safety space that has to do with safer roads safer drivers and safer vehicles. There will be new mandatory requirements for electronic stability control from March next year and the Rightcar website characterises cars with ESC as a "safer choice"."