Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Smith Nick: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:648;Page:17458] 
8.  
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
 to the  
Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues 
: What changes will the Government be prepared to make to the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill to ensure it passes? 
Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 The bill as reported back from the select committee is in very good shape. Talks with other parties are continuing. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: How successful are the discussions progressing with New Zealand First and what are the changes being contemplated to secure its support? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: Talks with support parties are continuing. 
Moana Mackey 
: What reports has he seen on the emissions trading scheme in the light of recent Australian announcements? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I have seen a  
Sunday Star-Times  
report that states National’s “ ‘wait-for-Australia’ stance has crumbled beneath it.” given that the Australian Government intends to proceed with a similar scheme to ours. Yet National still finds excuse for delay. Its members tell different stories to different audiences but consistently oppose every meaningful step we take. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: On how many occasions has the Minister met with New Zealand First to resolve issues over this bill and when was the latest meeting? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: A number of meetings have been held. In respect of parties other than New Zealand First I note that the same article from the  
Sunday Star-Times  
I quoted from went on to say: “Now Nick Smith its spokesman on climate change says National ‘has no real issue’ with 80% of the emissions bill.” It went on to say: “If it has a scrap of self-respect left it will resume co-operation on … the emissions trading bill”. But of course it does not; there are just more excuses for delay. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: What is the Minister’s current estimate of the prospect of this legislation being passed prior to an election noting that 8 weeks ago Ministers were saying 70:30 were in favour 4 weeks ago they were saying the figure was 50:50 but last week Ministers were saying the figure was 70:30 against—and is this not just code for saying the Government does not have the numbers? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: The member was not quoting me. If he had he would have said that I had previously said that I was optimistic and I remain optimistic. 
Dr Pita Sharples 
: Tena koe Madam Speaker. Does the Minister stand by his statement to the Local Government and Environment Committee that the fact that the emissions of the Ministry for the Environment have risen by 22 percent in the past year “reflected the importance of sustainability to the Government’s work programme”; and when will we actually see progress made on an emissions reduction programme? 
Hon DAVID PARKER 
: I cannot recall offhand whether the statistic read out was the exact figure. I accept that growth in the number of people in the Ministry for the Environment is a consequence of this Government’s focus on sustainability issues and that emissions from that department have increased. However I would also note that we have ambitions and programmes running across Government to reduce governmental emissions. One of those projects for example is to reduce Government department transport emissions by 15 percent by 2010 or 2012—I forget the exact date.