Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Robertson Grant: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 September 2012. Volume:683;Page:5130. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
4. 
GRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Leader—Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Climate Change Issues 
: Does he agree with Dr Jan Wright the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment that his Government’s changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme “makes a farce of our climate change commitments”; if not why not? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
 on behalf of the Minister for Climate Change Issues: No. New Zealand remains on track to meet its first commitment period obligations under the Kyoto Protocol to maintain its average emissions at 1990 levels during the period 2008 to 2012. In fact New Zealand is expected to exceed its commitment. 
Grant Robertson 
: Is the Ministry for the Environment correct when it estimates that the direct cost to the taxpayer of the proposed changes in this bill will be $330 million? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: We do not see actually that amount of money as a revenue stream. In fact what it is was the accounting by officials going forward of revenue coming to the Crown. Well that is not the situation. 
Grant Robertson 
: I seek leave of the House to table a Cabinet paper from the office of the Minister for Climate Change Issues which includes a table on the net fiscal impact of the proposed policy changes showing a $330 million impact. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 









Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Grant Robertson 
: Why is he prepared to see ordinary New Zealanders pay their share of carbon costs through petrol and electricity prices but under this legislation give polluters an indefinite 90 percent subsidy on their emissions at a cost of $330 million to those ordinary taxpayers? 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: We do not view this as a subsidy—we do not agree with the characterisation there—but the fact of the matter is that we have made a judgment that actually we live in very fragile economic conditions globally and that it is not right to heap costs on to business and households at this time. 
Grant Robertson 
: Mr Speaker—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I want to hear the question. I say to members please the noise is unreasonable. Grant Robertson. 
Grant Robertson 
: Has the Minister spoken to the chair of the select committee today who drew into question Dr Jan Wright’s independence and impartiality— 
Hon Member 
: No he didn’t. 
Grant Robertson 
: —sorry one of the members of the select committee who today drew into question the impartiality and independence of the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment simply because she had raised concerns that this Government continues to subsidise polluters at the cost of taxpayers? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: In so far as the Minister is responsible the Hon Simon Bridges. 
Hon SIMON BRIDGES 
: No. Look the commissioner is entitled to her views but so are the members on this side of the House.