Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Smith Nick: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 23 August 2012. Volume:683;Page:4736. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 The irony of that contribution from New Zealand First is extraordinary when we look at the  
Hansard 
 in September 2008 in the dying days of the Labour Government—and I see New Zealand First’s new MPs are looking on in interest. I challenge them to read the  
Hansard 
 in September 2008. Far from championing against international instruments for dealing with climate change the only reason the emissions trading scheme made it on to the books of the New Zealand legislator was the five votes recorded by New Zealand First to back Helen Clark’s bill at that time. That bill made broader instruments and had less control on international carbon units than the very bill we have before the House right now the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill which actually puts greater restrictions on the use of those. I can only conclude that Alzheimer’s is taking hold far worse than I thought within the New Zealand First caucus and I would just love Mr Peters to explain how it was that his decision to vote for that legislation was the only reason that an emission trading scheme made it on to the books. 
I also want to contrast the contribution that was made by Labour because in the 9 years that Labour was in Government it campaigned on New Zealand becoming carbon-neutral. Remember the carbon-neutral speeches? Remember every single bit of rhetoric we got in the House? I just want— 
Dr David Clark 
: And there was a plan. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Mr Clark I think from Dunedin says there was a plan. Well there might have been but let us talk about the results. When Labour came into Government in 1999 New Zealand’s emissions were 59 million tonnes per year. I would be interested to know how close it got to zero in its 9 years in Government. Well it actually went from 59 million tonnes a year to over 70 million tonnes in its 9 years. In fact the most interesting fact is this: New Zealand’s emissions during Labour’s years grew faster than those of any other OECD country. New Zealand’s emissions under Labour’s jurisdiction grew faster than those of any other developed country and we on this side of the House will not take Labour seriously on climate change until we hear some apologies for its appalling track record. 
The two factors that contribute to Labour’s record have both been turned round by this Government. The first is that New Zealand has greater opportunities around renewable energy than any other country yet during Labour’s years in each and every year the proportion of our electricity that was produced by renewables dropped. I have to say I think this Government should be hugely encouraged that over our 4 years we have seen an increase in the proportion of renewables and the figures that have just been published for 2011 show that it is at the highest level. For those who want to bag New Zealand’s record I say let us be proud of the fact that New Zealand has a higher proportion of renewable electricity—levels that any European country would be jealous of—with only one exception and that is Iceland. 
The second point that was absolutely tragic in the Labour years was the huge levels of deforestation. In Labour’s years there was more deforestation than under any Government since the Great Depression— 
Dr David Clark 
: Before the emissions trading scheme. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: —more deforestation. We have turned that round. The deforestation has stopped. The New Zealand forest area is growing and that can attributed to the sensible climate change policies that this Government has been adopting. 
 I want to commend the work of Tim Groser. I say this quite honestly to members of the House: New Zealand has never had greater influence internationally around climate change negotiations than under Tim Groser’s leadership. Anybody in this country who recognises that on this global environmental issue what New Zealand does is quite small should be hugely proud of the contribution that Tim is making to those international negotiations. I have been privileged to be at a couple of those with him. The way in which he has been successfully getting the big players—the Indians the Chinese and the Americans—to make progress on this issue is something that frankly every New Zealander should and certainly members of this side of the House do take pride in. 
On this issue New Zealand needs to take a balanced approach. That is one in which we are doing our fair share as a country but one where we are also realistic about the sort of pressure business and households are under. This bill does that. I look forward to working on the Finance and Expenditure Committee to ensure the detail of this complex issue is worked through but I cannot tolerate some of the double standards that we have seen from both Labour and New Zealand First members in this debate.