Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Graham Kennedy: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 13 November 2012. Volume:685;Page:6502. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
Dr KENNEDY GRAHAM (Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Climate Change Issues 
: Has he received any advice on the impact on New Zealand trade resulting from his decision not to sign up to the Second Commitment Period under the Kyoto Protocol; if so what was it? 
Hon TIM GROSER (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 No. As the Minister for Climate Change Issues I have not received any advice but I have taken the precaution of asking the Minister of Trade—this is a politically seamless Government—and the Minister of Trade assures me that although he has received a torrent of speculation on this matter not a single piece of evidence exists to support this political fantasy. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Having the Minister explore his eternal circular logic between his ministerial brains does he agree with his Prime Minister John Key who once said: “New Zealand must take credible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or risk becoming a trading pariah.” and does his action risk making us that pariah? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I absolutely agree with the Prime Minister. I am not quite sure of the context of the remarks but as it is stated I absolutely agree. I think it is very important that the House recognises the enormous progress New Zealand has made in being the most carbon-efficient agricultural country in the world which is why the  
Daily Mail 
 focusing on this lovely picture of a Romney sheep and its spring lamb has urged the British middle class to descend like the proverbial wolf on the fold to consume it in order to save the planet. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Dr Kennedy Graham. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I want to hear Dr Kennedy Graham. [ 
Interruption 
] Order! I must say to both sides please I want to hear Dr Kennedy Graham’s question. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Returning to a serious plane of analysis how many jobs and trade opportunities could be created from investing the $1 billion taxpayers’ subsidy for pollution under the emissions trading scheme in research and development investment and other job-rich initiatives? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: I have no idea what set of statistics the member has in mind. What I know is that we could certainly destroy a great number of jobs if we loaded costs on to households and businesses in the naive belief that somehow this would make a large material difference to this issue. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: Can the Minister explain to the House why the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement congratulating Australia’s Prime Minister on her leadership in signing up to a second commitment period but remained silent on New Zealand’s decision not to do so? 
Hon TIM GROSER 
: No I have not been in touch recently with the Secretary-General. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! A point of order has been called. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: The question is not answered. It was not whether he has been in touch; it was whether he can explain the Secretary-General’s silence. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I think in fairness the Minister said that he cannot because he has not been in touch with the Secretary-General and I guess to understand what the Secretary-General is on about he probably would have had to be. I mean that is one possible—it is not an unreasonable answer. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: I seek leave to table some documents that will help the Minister. One is the press release from the United Nations dated 10 November explaining the Secretary-General’s congratulations to Australia on its decision. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: A Radio New Zealand release— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no; not local press releases. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: A press release from the Sustainability Council— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. 
Dr Kennedy Graham 
: A press release— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No. The member does have further supplementary questions though should he wish to use them. I beg your pardon; no he does not. I beg your pardon my counting is wrong.