Goldsmith Paul: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Goldsmith Paul: Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 16 August 2012. Volume:682;Page:4511. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
PAUL GOLDSMITH (National) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Chairman. That is very kind. I am very pleased to be able to speak on the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Bill. 
Hon Members 
: Steady. Don’t fall down. 
PAUL GOLDSMITH 
: I will hang on to a podium here. 
Dr Cam Calder 
: I’ll come and stand beside you. 
PAUL GOLDSMITH 
: Thank you. This is the effort and the outcome of a very hard-working Minister and a Government that is getting on with legislation. We are not going to be taking 10 years to get on to this important issue— 
Hon Member 
: Unlike Labour. 
PAUL GOLDSMITH 
: —unlike the Labour Party and the previous Government—which affects the exclusive economic zone around New Zealand the fourth or fifth-largest in the world. We were not going to wait until the end of the Olympics—as our friend from the Green Party suggested we should do—before we got on with any announcements. We are about getting on with the job and not avoiding the issue. These are difficult issues that we need to resolve and deal with in this country. At the end of the day New Zealand does face some continual dilemmas about how it balances and weighs up the importance of economic growth and the desire to retain and protect the natural environment we have inherited. That is what we continue to do every day and what this bill is all about. 
We can see from Supplementary Order Paper 102 where the Greens are coming from. We have got a suggestion here from Mr Hughes I believe it is that basically says that no person may undertake oil or gas exploration or production in depths of more than 200 metres. That is it. It is simple—just do not do it. Do not do it. The Greens’ attitude and their response to New Zealand going forward and growing is “Just don’t do it.” and “Stop it all.” and it is the same with fracking: “Don’t do it.” The Americans can be lifting their standard of living by getting access to shale gas getting on with things getting on with the world transforming their economy and making their economy much stronger but not in the Greens’ world. It is simple: “No. Just don’t do it.” I suppose you have got to respect that approach. At least Green members are consistent. They stick to their guns. Their attitude is always the same. 
From within this House we have heard plenty of criticism however of the slight contradiction that there is between the desire to provide jobs for people in New Zealand in communities around New Zealand to provide work and opportunities for people and this continual desire to say no to everything that comes along. That is the Greens’ position. Labour— 
Andrew Little 
: Have you got a new speech to give? Have you got something new to say? 
PAUL GOLDSMITH 
: Restatement and consistency are very important in this House. People want to see consistency. I see that the Labour Party continues on this issue here and has been raising a lot of red herrings—talking about the UN legislation. We are relying on the advice of the Legislation Advisory Committee and we are relying on the advice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade which have been very clear on this that this bill is not inconsistent with our international obligations. I would certainly prefer to take their advice on this topic than take advice from that legal expert from the East Coast Moana Mackey. I am not saying anything. I am not criticising her legal abilities by any stretch but I am more inclined to take the advice of the Legislation Advisory Committee which has been consistent all along that this bill here is consistent with our international obligations. 
The most surprising thing though—and I was greatly reassured to hear it—is that New Zealand First members who were breathing fire and brimstone against this bill for a long extended period have now seen the opportunity to reconsider and have come in behind this legislation following the Supplementary Order Papers that were elegantly expressed and brought to this Committee by the Minister Amy Adams. So on that basis I am very supportive of this bill and I think we should get on with it get this legislation in place in time deal with an issue that has been left to drift for so long and get a clear understanding of what is and is not able to be done in our exclusive economic zone. Thank you.