Lee MelissaMELISSA LEE (National): It is a great pleasure to rise to support this second reading of the Energy Innovation (Electric Vehicles and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. Before I actually begin I would like to thank the member who just took her seat Dr Megan Woods. I am very glad that she enjoyed her time at our Commerce Committee.This bill is an omnibus bill that was brought before the Commerce Committee last year. During its time before the Commerce Committee we received and considered 40 submissions—11 of those were oral submissions that we heard. We also received advice from the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment as well as the Ministry of Transport. This bill proposes to expand the ability of EECA—the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority—to use its existing levies for wider purposes. The bill also provides incentives and encouragement for the greater uptake of electric vehicle use through road exemption charges and clarification of the by-laws that are relevant to electric vehicle usage in our towns and our cities.One such option at the local level that this bill would allow is for the high-occupancy bus lane that the member who just took her seat talked about and for other special vehicle accesses to be implemented by the road controlling authority. And it is an opt-in situation. This is important as it would provide a key incentive particularly in high-volume traffic communities to buy into new innovative vehicle technologies that benefit the environment and wider community.We also recommended that a new clause be inserted into the bill to allow vehicle surveillance equipment to be used on our roads and highways to track unauthorised use of special vehicle lanes. As Dr Woods actually said we had many amusing discussions as to how those vehicles would be identified—whether it was going to be stickers or whether it was different coloured number plates. So it was a very thorough discussion that we had. This is because the motor vehicles register is in the process of being updated to show whether a registered vehicle is in fact an electric one and this would reduce bureaucracy in the processing of infringement and compliance notices.The way we have got it the bill will also make changes to clarify how electricity industry regulation applies to secondary networks as the Minister has in fact spoken about. The committee recommended clarifying the definition of a secondary network provider to better match the policy intent of the bill to make sure that it is clear that if the secondary network provider undertakes activities and practices—if they in fact undertake practices like an electricity distributor—then they should be subject to the same regulatory oversight requirements. The committee also supports the allowance for Orders in Council which the Minister talked about.Another important area that this bill covers is the collection of the gas levy. The committee has recommended allowing for regulations to be made for exemptions from the gas levy so that the liability of the gas levy is solely where the gas is sold by the retailer—that is where the collection is. This would make it clearer as to who is in fact liable for the levy increase transparency and not require a complete restructure of the levy liability rule.Our economy is diversifying and our choices of travel are diversifying as well in fact. More public transportation options more car-share services as well as more choices in our private vehicles with better more fuel-efficient and eco-friendly options at reasonable prices will continue to benefit New Zealand. As technology progresses those vehicle costs will come down as well. We are an innovative country with leading science in our R & D industries. An energy innovation amendment bill like this one will continue to see our country embrace greater opportunities for New Zealanders. I commend the work of the previous Minister of Energy and Resources Mr Bridges and also the current Minister Ms Collins for bringing this bill to the House. I commend the bill.