Donald Rod: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Donald Rod: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6247] 
1. ROD DONALD (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for the Environment 
: What steps has the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet taken to ensure that “Sustainable development must be at the core of all government policy.” as announced in the Sustainable Development for New Zealand: Programme of Action launched in January this year? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS (Minister for the Environment) 
: 
 The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has informed all chief executives about the principles for policy and decision making in the sustainable development programme of action. It also leads a cross-Government coordinating group from 11 agencies that is currently focusing on energy water child and youth development and sustainable cities in New Zealand. 
Rod Donald 
: If sustainable development must be at the core of all Government policy why is it not part of the purpose of the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Bill; and why are there no sustainable development criteria against which grants to be made by the new Crown entity are to be assessed? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: As I understand the member has written a Supplementary Order Paper to that bill. I understand that that Supplementary Order Paper is not needed because there is a clear reference to sustainable economic development in clause 9(1)(a) of the bill. 
David Parker 
: What reports has the Minister received on triple bottom line reporting in New Zealand’s public sector? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Triple bottom line reporting is one way of measuring and reporting on progress towards sustainability. The Ministry for the Environment’s recently released triple bottom line report has received a special mention in the world-leading Global Reporting Initiative update for being a world first for a Government agency. 
Rod Donald 
: Is she concerned that most Government departments Crown entities and State-owned enterprises have conceded in answers to written questions that they have not put in place triple bottom line reporting criteria despite the Minister stating that triple bottom line reporting is part of a whole-of-Government programme to find better ways of measuring and reporting on progress towards sustainability in only March of this year? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: I concede that this is not an instant turn-round which the member is asking for. Rather it is a gradual approach towards ensuring that all our policies and programmes meet sustainable criteria. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: If sustainable development must be at the core of all Government policy will she recommend to her colleague the Minister for Economic Development that all funding from Industry New Zealand should be subject to the recipient implementing state-of-the-art energy efficiency in its buildings processes and transport? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: Energy efficiency—as well as a secure energy supply and a commitment to increase renewable energy—is a part of the sustainable development programme. 
Sue Kedgley 
: If sustainability must now be at the core of all Government policy is the Government developing an alternative model of measuring growth that does not count as positive tobacco and alcohol sales the costs of cleaning up pollution road accidents and deaths the accumulation of waste and so forth? 
Hon MARIAN HOBBS 
: The proactive focus of the sustainable energy programme run by the Government is on water allocation and water quality energy youth development and sustainable cities. Further work in areas like health on specific issues like those the member mentioned will be taken up as we complete those programmes.