Hughes Gareth: General DebateText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHughes Gareth: General Debate[Sitting date: 19 February 2014. Volume:696;Page:16086. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]GARETH HUGHES (Green): Kia ora Mr Assistant Speaker.Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora. Despite all the negative politics and despite all the doom and gloom and negativity of the National Party the Green Party has a simple message in this election: here comes the sun. The Greens want to give Kiwis energy choices more competition and make it cheaper for them to produce their own power from the sun. I do not know whether members have noticed today but outside we have seen a massive solar spill in Wellington. Unlike a deep-sea oil spill the only impact we are seeing is a lovely day and Kiwis producing their own electricity.On Sunday as you all know Green Party co-leader Russel Norman launched the Greens’ Solar Homes package to help Kiwis access low-cost loans to face the upfront barrier of the capital cost of solar panels. Solar is one of the greenest forms of generation we have and we have ample sunlight in New Zealand. It gives Kiwis independence from the big electricity companies and with no fuel cost it insulates Kiwis from relentless electricity price rises. We all know about those price rises. We all get that sinking feeling in our guts when another power bill arrives in the post.What we have seen under National is our power prices increase by 22 percent. This year despite demand going down the prices keep going up and up. It must be clear to everyone by now that National’s electricity system is not working for New Zealand and is not working for New Zealanders. Under the Greens’ Solar Homes initiative Kiwis will be able to go to the Government to access a low-cost loan to be repaid through their rates so they can purchase solar panels or batteries.The loans will be cost-neutral to the Crown. There is a small administration cost to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority of under $1 million and the net Crown fiscal position is still neutral. Once the loan is repaid the families own the panels and batteries in full. They can make money by selling excess generation into the grid. I think that this is an example of smarter greener economics in action. I think that this is an example of energy freedom in action. I think that this is an example of new jobs and clean energy in action.We estimate that we could see 1000 new jobs created from Kiwis helping Kiwis to go solar. When you look around the world in America every 4 minutes a new home or business goes solar. Across the Ditch in Australia there are 1 million homes with solar panels on the top. New Zealand has a tremendous opportunity to grow jobs help Kiwis save money and save carbon. So predictably the Government came out with its negativity with its shrill screaming of “Subsidies!”—never mind that it is not a subsidy; it is a loan. I think the reason why the Government screams “Subsidies!” as a knee-jerk reaction is that subsidies are on its lips.Hon Annette King: So what did it give toMediaWorks?GARETH HUGHES: That is exactly right Annette King. Subsidies are on its lips—look at the $30 million it has just paid out to RioTinto despite RioTinto making a $3.7 billion profit in the last year. When I look at the $46 million in tax breaks and the $25 million in seismic survey subsidies for the oil industry or the dodgy deals National members are entertaining for the Choruses and theSkycities of this world I think the word “subsidies” is on the tip of their lips.Then they started to scream about renewables. Never mind that under National Huntly power station has just had a 25-year extension to burn more coal and gas. Never mind that under National the Prime Minister is going around Taranaki opening gas-fired peaking power stations powered by the controversial fracking practice. And never mind that the Government’s own officials advised the Government that it is not on track to meet its 90 percent renewables target. So this policy from the Greens is a good example of smarter greener politics and it is a bright start towards getting 100 percent renewables.What we know is that in terms of energy National is stuck in the dark age. But the good news for New Zealanders is that here comes the sun. We are giving Kiwis a real choice this election. Under National there are more excuses for power price rises more risky deep-sea drilling more assets flogged off. Or on the other side the Green Party is offering cheaper power from NZ Power insulation under your roof and a solar panel on the top. If National wants to be the party of big oil and big power company profits so be it. We are going to be the party offering Kiwis cheaper cleaner smarter power and we are going to give the power back to New Zealanders. We think that is the real brighter future for New Zealand. Kia ora.