Woolerton R Doug: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill — First Reading 
Woolerton R Doug: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:644;Page:13797] 
R DOUG WOOLERTON (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First supports the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill going to a select committee. New Zealand First looks forward to the debate on this bill because like most caucuses we have people who are slowly coming to the realisation that climate change is a problem. We have people who agree and people who disagree and we have had many debates in our caucus over this issue. 
I will mention that Peter Brown has problems with Part 2—he asked me to mention it—and he will be watching over my shoulder as we go through the process to ensure that we do not get too silly on those aspects. I welcome that because I think every caucus in Parliament—perhaps not the Greens’ caucus—has struggled with this issue. 
We are certainly looking forward to the debate. We will not beat the Government or anybody else over the head about the 5 years that National says have been lost. I am sure that the Greens feel that we have all been latecomers to the party as it were. But I think those 5 years have been a period when the opinion of the public of New Zealand has moved and the polls we are seeing now reflect that climate change is of concern to in excess of 70 percent of the population. I think that now is about the right time for us to be debating a bill such as this. 
New Zealand First was not amongst the first in this race but we certainly will be approaching this bill with an open mind and we are intent on getting things done. It is absolutely true that the debate over the whys and the wherefores has moved on. I think that debate was important but now we need to approach what we actually will do about it. When I see—what do they call them—Green Cabs running around Wellington— 
Hon David Carter 
: And the Green Parrot. 
R DOUG WOOLERTON 
: —the Green Parrot—I see that the realities of life are moving into the commercial world. People are seeing that they can have a little competitive advantage. I and I am sure the National Party and others welcome that sort of thing and that is the sort of positive debate we are seeing come out of this discussion. We will see many more such positive things. If slings and arrows are cast around we will just have to accept that but at least now we in this Parliament are all moving in the right direction. 
We as a population have had debates with foresters and we have had talks about rights. We in New Zealand First voted against the carbon tax. Now we have come to an emissions trading regime. Others know far more about it than perhaps we in New Zealand do—people in Europe for instance—but it is still a relatively new science. The trading regime is still relatively new and I think we have a long way to go before we perfect it. There are a lot of arguments to be had before we agree amongst ourselves but the debate has started. We in New Zealand First embrace it with open arms and we will do everything in our power to progress it to the advantage—but not to the cost—of New Zealand.