Wong Pansy: Energy (Fuels Levies and References) Biofuel Obligation Repeal Bill — First Reading Second Reading 
Wong Pansy: Energy (Fuels Levies and References) Biofuel Obligation Repeal Bill — First Reading Second Reading 
[Volume:651;Page:768] 
Hon PANSY WONG (Associate Minister of Energy and Resources) 
: 
 I do not intend to repeat all the arguments stated by the Minister of Energy and Resources the Hon Gerry Brownlee. I intend to take a short call because the Energy (Fuels Levies and References) Biofuel Obligation Repeal Bill is very focused concise legislation. It is a very good demonstration of why Labour ended up on the Opposition benches and will remain there for a very very long time. We are once again repealing a piece of mandatory compulsory “Government knows best and does not trust the public to make choices” regulation. 
Not only did the Minister make a sensible move to fulfil one of the promises that National has campaigned on but he has also included the viable alternative of introducing tax incentives. That I think is a sensible way to embrace the biofuel sector because a lot of the science research and standards are still in the process of being developed. How can anybody in New Zealand embrace the concept of requiring by 1 October 2008 a mandatory level of biofuel to be sold through the petrol pump when the standards to test whether biofuels are sustainably sourced are still being drafted? How can one reasonably stand in this House to defend a requirement before the standards have been drafted and put out there? How do we know that those biofuels would not repeat the previous mistakes? We have seen some members jump right into wanting to lead the world only to then see the first wave of biofuels cause problems with regard to food shortages and deforestation. Why should we continue to repeat those mistakes? The European Union after 2 years has not developed the standards to ensure that biofuels are in fact obtained from sustainable sources. 
I think the Minister the Hon Gerry Brownlee should be congratulated on putting a stop to the mandatory compulsory requirement while at the same time bringing in a very sensible scheme of introducing tax incentives. I think that will send a better pricing signal that a mandatory “Government knows best” signal would. The Minister also sensibly pointed out that there is a need to develop a process for proving the sustainability of biofuel production. This National-led Government believes that New Zealanders understand and care about the environment. New Zealanders are being given the right information and tax incentives in order to actually make the right choices under this biofuels regime. While I am on my feet I also want to congratulate the Minister on being consistent in showing our belief in New Zealanders. He has also put a ban on the regulations brought in by the previous Labour Government to try to tell people how long they can take hot showers for and what sorts of light bulbs they are allowed to use. 
It is a real pleasure to stand up and support sensible legislation that shows our confidence in those New Zealanders who got rid of the Labour Government which used to tell people how to run their lives.