Bennett David: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill — In Committee 
Bennett David: Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:649;Page:18172] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 Part 2 of the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Billamends the Electricity Act 1992 and inserts new Part 6A which restricts new fossil-fuelled thermal electricity generating capacity. If we look at new section 62A in Part 6A we see that the purpose is to create a preference for renewable electricity generation. I do not think anyone would have any problem with that but it is the matter of how it is done. Section 62A also places a “10-year restriction on new baseload fossil-fuelled thermal electricity generation capacity except where an exemption is appropriate”. That sounds very much like a New Zealand First reaction to any questions about donors—saying “yes” then “no”. This legislation creates a number of exemptions to a policy but I think it can be done in a number of other ways. 
Everybody needs and understands the requirement for renewal electricity generation in our country. We have a proud history of being a renewable electricity generator and previous generations of New Zealanders have invested heavily in hydro-electricity generation. That investment put us in a very good position leading into this modern time when renewable energy has become such an issue of the day. That investment set New Zealand up in a very good position where we could have that “clean green” image that we have portrayed around the world. Something that New Zealand probably needs to have a good hard look at is how we make that renewable capacity in the future because that is the real answer for our ability to deliver in this area. It is not an issue on which we can change our focus quickly; these are long-term goals they take long-term investment and they need to have Government support—not necessarily financially but certainly support in the concept of renewable electricity generation. I think we are seeing that in New Zealand at this time just as we are seeing it worldwide. 
Will Part 2 of this bill actually achieve the goal of achieving that renewable energy capacity? That is the question. National believes it will not. We say there are other ways and other mechanisms that will be more appropriate to achieve that goal. New Zealand definitely has to move in that direction. With such a high percentage of renewable energy available we have an opportunity to get back to the even higher percentage that we had in many past generations. That is something that would achieve our goals long term as a country. This legislation which we are debating today under such strict time conditions does not give New Zealanders the ability to look at those options and discuss them. This legislation is being debated for the reasons of political expediency. It is being passed as part of the scorched earth policy of the Labour Government in its last weeks in office. It is being passed in an attempt to kick the guts of the New Zealand heart of agricultural and industrial growth. It is being passed at a time when New Zealanders are struggling financially and the implications of this legislation on the budgets of ordinary Kiwis are yet to be seen. Many New Zealanders will pay the consequences of this legislation in the future and at a time when they can least afford to do so. New Zealanders are in a very dire predicament at the moment. We have a recession we have a Government that has no intention of lifting us out of recession we have high interest rates and we have high fuel costs and high primary costs of production for raw materials and foodstuffs. To put more costs on to New Zealanders at a time when they are struggling is something that is not in their best interests. 
However we must also address the issue of climate change and we must address the issue of renewable energy and electricity generation. There are better ways of doing that than this bill. This bill is a sort of last-minute reprieve by the Labour Government in its dealings with some of the minor parties. It does not show a lot of confidence in the political system. It does not show a measure of dedication to get the debate going or to have constructive ideas. There is no need to pass the biggest piece of legislation this Parliament will have seen this term in the last week of the term of the Parliament. There has to be an opportunity for debate for people to put forward new and constructive ideas. There has to be an opportunity for some compromise in legislation like this as we move forward and deal with these issues. We cannot have a Government and political party supporting it that are passing legislation just on a whim just on what they feel will look good on a piece of paper without actually reflecting on the detail of it or reflecting on what it could mean for New Zealanders in the long term and also reflecting on what it means to the country as we try to promote renewable electricity generation in the future. So we have some major problems with Part 2. It is something that has not been thought through by this Government.