Bridges SimonHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition): The National Party takes climate change seriously and we believe in practical sensible solutions that don't punish everyday New Zealanders in the process. We are bound by our principles in this area and we know that if we are science-based if we utilise and invest in innovation and technology if we are incentives-based if we are in line and in step not out of step with our international partners if we are aware of and cognisant of the economic impacts of change we can do it.The National Party has a very proud record in office when it comes to climate change. I want to acknowledge the likes of the Hon Nick Smith Maggie Barry Scott Simpson and others in our caucus who have made a difference in this area with sensible practical policies. I am proud in my time as a Minister to have seen energy in electricity go in our time in office from 65 to 85 percent to still have in transport the most significant actions ever whether that be electric vehicles initiatives whether that be in public transport or other areas as well.In relation to this bill the National Party played I think my colleague James Shaw would acknowledge a significant role in it. Before this bill—before in fact the Government was even considering in substance the shape of this bill—I gave a speech to the Fieldays in 2018 and I said the following: In order to drive long-lasting change broad and enduring political support is needed for New Zealand's climate change framework on the institutional arrangements we put in place to support a reduction in emissions. Both the Productivity Commission and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment were clear about this. Stability is required to allow people and businesses to plan and respond. It requires a consensus between the major political parties on the overall framework through which we address climate change issues."Today I have written to the Prime Minister and James Shaw offering to work with them to establish an independent non-political Climate Change Commission. I want to work with the Government to make meaningful bipartisan progress on climate change. This will be challenging it will require compromises on both sides it will require us all to listen and engage respectfully but the prize is too great not to try and the consequences on our economy jobs and the environment are too serious if we don't do so responsibly.The Climate Change Commission would support New Zealand emissions reduction both by advising the Government on carbon budgets and holding the Government to account by publishing progress reports on emissions. The commission would be advisory only with the Government of the day taking final decisions both on targets and policy responses. I went on to say that there are a number of details I want to work through with the Government before the commission is launched such as ensuring the commission has appropriate consideration for economic impacts as well as environmental and the process for appointments to the commission is also bipartisan. But I am confident that we can work constructively together to establish an enduring non-political framework for all future Governments when considering climate change issues and I stand by those remarks. That's what we've put in place with this bill.I want acknowledge Todd Muller and Scott Simpson for the leadership they've shown and the hard work that they have shown in being across the many details that go into climate change policy. I also want to acknowledge James Shaw. The talks have been on and off but he listened and we compromised at significant points along the way. This bill is a product and it's not so much as I wanted but it is a product of compromise and "compromise" shouldn't be a dirty word in politics. National will support this bill.The reality is that there are parts of this bill I disagree with—that I strongly disagree with. We sought amendments in this House last night and we weren't successful. In summary they're around our principles and ensuring our economy our food production and everyday New Zealanders aren't punished as we make change. New Zealand feeds the world. We produce more food per person than any other OECD nation bar none. That means emissions per capita yes they're high in this country but we are also the most efficient food producers in the world. The world needs to be fed and we know how to do it better more efficiently more productively than anyone. National is proud of our farmers and the way that they keep improving. They have over the last 30 years and I know they will over the next 30. We get it.I have to say New Zealand First does not. They can't say over the last two years that they stand on the side of regional and rural New Zealand. They blocked our amendments last night to this bill out of ignorance and petty partisan politics. But a National Government that I lead will make all those amendments in our first 100 days in office.In the interest of time I'm not going to go fully through those seven amendments we will make. The first is that we'll make sure the target for methane reduction will be recommended by the independent Climate Change Commission instead of politicians. I want to say I listened carefully to what Minister Shaw said yesterday—I think it was afternoon. This law in fact allows him to write to the commission for review of that target. We say in the National Party in the interests of New Zealand that 24 to 47 percent is simply too high. It will punish everyday New Zealanders on farms and more broadly around this country. We ask that he does that in coming days: he writes to the commission.I also want to finish with a wider point. To those in Auckland Hamilton Tauranga Wellington Christchurch and Dunedin this isn't all up to our farmers. They keep improving as I said the last 30 years and I have absolutely no doubt they will keep up with that over the next 30 years to stay the best in the game. They get it. But no—we all need to play our role: townies city folk Gen Y Gen X and the boomers. I am proud of National's pragmatic sensible solutions-oriented approach to climate change. I'm proud of our record in office. I'm proud of our bipartisan approach on the framework and this bill and I pledge to improve this law swiftly when we are in Government."