SpeechKIERAN McANULTY (Labour): If ever there was an example of the difference between the National Party and this coalition Government we are seeing it tonight. This conservative negative backward approach to how we're going to go forward in this country is evident on that side of the House. What we are seeing tonight is the attitude that this country saw when the Labour Government wanted to ban nuclear activity in this country: no nuclear war ships no nuclear activity making a stand on the world stage and the National Party stood against it and said that it would ruin this country that it would undermine our relationships with our overseas partners. Did it? Did it jot! It strengthened our place in the world and that is exactly what this decision is going to do.We have heard tonight that this is going to be the demise of this country. If this bill was going to be the demise of this country I ask a very simple question: would the Opposition roll out Maureen Pugh to put forward their arguments? Absolutely not. Would the Opposition bring out Andrew Falloon to put forward their arguments? No they wouldn't. Where is their leadership? Where are the senior members of the National Party to put forward their argument about something that's going to be the demise of this country? What a joke. Those members over there do not believe what they're saying because what they're saying is not true. What we heard from Maureen Pugh was that investment was running away from this country because of this bill.Tim van de Molen: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. The suggestion that the member just made was totally inappropriate and brings this House into disrepute. I ask that he withdraw and apologise.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Which comment?Tim van de Molen: Well I'm not sure that I should be repeating it to be honest Madam Deputy Speaker. The comment that speeches made by this side of the House—DEPUTY SPEAKER: Are not telling the truth?Tim van de Molen: —were untrue.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I beg your pardon. You're quite right. I will ask the member to stand withdraw and apologise.KIERAN McANULTY: I withdraw and apologise Madam Deputy Speaker.Let's look at the list of investments that contradict the statement that was made by Maureen Pugh. Maureen Pugh stated that investment is being driven out of this country because of this bill. Let's have a look at this: $100 million in gas peaking confirmed by Todd after the announcement of this bill. Look at Methanex confirming a gas contract to the 2020s—after the confirmation of this bill. Now if all that the National Party has to contradict these facts is a point of order I think we're going to know who's going to come out on top of this argument. What about Genesis Energy confirming publicly that they have gas certainty until the 2030s—after the confirmation of this bill? Just last week there was new exploration activity in Taranaki and this is supposed to be the region that will be absolutely distraught and decimated as a result of this bill.What this bill says to the world is that New Zealand is serious about living up to the commitments that the previous Government signed us up to—that the Labour Party the Green Party and the New Zealand First Party actually take those commitments seriously. When our Prime Minister goes overseas and portrays this country to the world she's doing it on a platform of truth. I remember John Key the previous Prime Minister going over to the UK and portraying New Zealand as 100% Pure". He took on a commitment with the BBC on HARDtalk and he was absolutely humiliated and so was the country as a result. Because at no point could he provide any example and any evidence that this country is living up to our commitments in terms of climate change and living up to our "100% Pure" image.This bill is going a long way to us living up to that commitment. This will help rural New Zealand. It will help our primary industries to live up to the image that we portray to the world. If the National Party think that the future of this country is to try and produce more agricultural products when every other country is trying to catch up instead of actually getting value-add and high-end products to the most discerning in the world—if we produce those products and we don't live up to our "100% Pure" brand no one's going to buy them. It's the National Party that will then blame themselves for not supporting what we have to do to actually take a leading role in climate change in this world. I have absolutely no hesitation and am very proud to commend this bill to the House."