Bennett David: Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bennett David: Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 02 September 2008. Volume:649;Page:18561. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 If members look at the electricity sector over the last 9 years they will see two features that show what the Labour Government has done to the sector. The first is the tremendous increase in the cost of electricity. The Labour Government has managed to increase the cost of electricity for ordinary New Zealanders. Somehow it has managed to take advantage of the economic conditions of New Zealand and sting the New Zealand public through higher energy costs.  
The other thing that is quite interesting to look at in respect of the legacy of Labour and energy is that its policies have led to a situation where we have fewer renewables as a percentage of what this country actually produces in energy. At a time when any other country in the world is looking at increasing renewables the Labour Government of New Zealand has spent 9 years reducing the percentage of renewables in New Zealand. Is that what members call good governance? In the last week of a dying Government Labour has produced legislation to try to increase the renewable target. What kind of leadership is that? What kind of industry awareness is that? What kind of dedication to the environment is that? What kind of approach to energy issues is that? It is not good enough.  
The New Zealand public deserves better from its Government. It deserves a Government that looks forward and takes action before issues become such a distinct problem as has happened in respect of this Government. This Government has not taken the necessary actions over the last 9 years to encourage renewables. Any members who have been in touch with their constituencies would know that the individual lines companies want to have the ability to produce renewables. Many proposals in the Waikato for example have not got off the ground in recent years and this Government is waiting until the last week to put some legislation forward. The last week is when it decides to do something about it. Well it is far too little far too late.  
The reality is that New Zealand has got into a situation now where we do not have the renewable component that we are used to. It is hurting us economically and it will mean that we have to make a huge investment under a National Government to achieve that renewable target. What is more New Zealanders have had to pay for that electricity over the last 9 years and they have had to pay for dirty electricity not for clean electricity that could have helped our brand as a country and could have helped New Zealand as a leader in the renewable energy stakes. No this Government has charged New Zealanders more for electricity—for dirty electricity. Is that good policy? It is not.  
The Government has had the opportunity over the last 9 years to make structural change to make investment in electricity and to make the progress that New Zealanders demand of a Government. But the New Zealand public did not get that. The Government did not provide that leadership. This bill is just one little attempt in the last week to try to provide that leadership. Well it is not leadership.  
This bill is not leadership. Leadership is about providing some distinct vision about how we can make our renewable target a reality. That will come under the National Government because we will not walk away from the tough issues and we will not put up legislation in the last week of a term to try to find solutions. We will go out there and think about the issues provide solutions and make sure they are workable. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member will speak to the bill. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: And I am—to the Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill. When we look at this bill we see that it is far too little far too late. It does not cover the issues that the public of New Zealand have had to deal with in the sector. The bill does not deal with the increasing costs that have been put on the public and it does not deal with the lack of renewable electricity generation in this country. They are two immediate failures in the energy policy of this Government and that shows the true intention of this Government not to provide a clean green New Zealand where we can prosper and make the most of the physical attributes of this country.