Boscawen John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Boscawen John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:664;Page:12302] 
3. 
JOHN BOSCAWEN (ACT) 
 to the  
Minister for Climate Change Issues 
: Did he tell Mr McPartlin in Blenheim last night that “if you’re not happy with us or believe climate change is a load of nonsense then at next year’s election vote for a party that doesn’t want an ETS”? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister for Climate Change Issues) 
: 
 I did receive a question at a large public meeting in Blenheim last night on the emissions trading scheme from a gentleman who asserted that the climate change science was a load of nonsense. I advised him that that was not the Government’s view that there was sufficient scientific evidence to justify actions to curb our emissions and that National had campaigned in 2008 on proceeding with a moderated emissions trading scheme this year. I also noted that he was entitled to support political parties that view the science as a load of rubbish. 
John Boscawen 
: When he advised Mr McPartlin and other farmers pensioners small-business owners and householders to vote ACT if they wanted to see the emission trading scheme dumped did he have in mind the number of votes that ACT would need to achieve this? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I actually found that the number at the meeting last night who thought that the climate change science was a load of nonsense was a minority. I think that is reflected in the fact that the only party in Parliament that says the science is a load of rubbish is the ACT Party. I note that its support in the polls is not particularly high. 
Nicky Wagner 
: Is the Minister aware of any inaccurate claims made at public meetings on the science and the emissions trading scheme that need correcting? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Yes I am. I have noted claims by Mr John Boscawen that the European emissions trading scheme impacts only on industry and has no impact on the price paid for power by businesses or households in Europe. That is not correct. Just like our scheme although the obligation is on those emitters the costs are transferred down to small businesses and householders. In fact the international reports show that the cost impact of the New Zealand emissions trading scheme will be not more than half the costs of the scheme imposed in Europe. 
John Boscawen 
: What does the Minister say to pensioners Kevin and Gabrielle Holden who told  
3 News 
 last night that they are down to one bar on their heater who will have to pay even more for their electricity from tomorrow because of the emissions trading scheme and who will near freeze to death so that he can pay hundreds of millions of dollars to foreign-owned forestry companies like Fuji Xerox Oji Paper and Itochu which did not even plant the trees? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The interesting thing in Blenheim as was noted by its effective local member of Parliament— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Who’s that? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Mr Colin King. He noted that the Marlborough area will receive $80 million for ordinary New Zealanders who have planted trees as compared with the $9 million it will cost Marlburians in electricity and petrol price increases. I found at the meeting that there was real surprise that Marlborough was one of the regions with the largest area of forests that will earn credits under the emissions trading scheme. 
Dr Russel Norman 
: I seek leave to table a document that shows that climate change deniers John Boscawen and Alan Gibbs gave $300000 to the ACT Party. It is from the Electoral Commission and is dated 29 April 2009. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: What is the source of the document? 
Dr Russel Norman 
: The Electoral Commission. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is no objection. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.