10. KiwiRail—Locomotives and Environmental ImpactDENIS O'ROURKE (NZ First) to the Minister of TransportKiwiRail—Locomotives and Environmental Impact10. DENIS O'ROURKE (NZ First) to the Minister of Transport: Is he concerned about the announcement by KiwiRail on 21 December 2016 that it intends to de-electrify the North Island's Main Trunk railway system?Hon DAVID BENNETT (Associate Minister of Transport) on behalf of the Minister of Transport: The decision to move to an all-diesel fleet on the North Island's main trunk line was an operational decision made by KiwiRail. KiwiRail made this decision because it believes the shift to a single fleet is the best way to improve reliability and efficiency for its customers and to boost the benefits of rail for New Zealand.Denis O'Rourke: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was whether the Minister is concerned about that and that should be answered.Mr SPEAKER: Well I think if you had listened to the answer you could interpret it—I will ask the Minister just to answer specifically in light of his answer whether he is concerned.Hon DAVID BENNETT: This is an operational decision for KiwiRail.Denis O'Rourke: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The answer was the same as already given and it still does not answer—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is very observant of the member. I did ask the Minister whether he wanted to be more specific. It is a question on notice. He has given his answer. I am not responsible for the answer given. It is now over to members to interpret the answer given as to whether he was concerned. The way forward as I always advise my learned friend Denis O'Rourke is to proceed with very incisive supplementary questions.Denis O'Rourke: How could he not be concerned when he knows that the nation must meet demanding greenhouse gas emissions targets in both the short and long terms pursuant to the Paris Agreement?Hon DAVID BENNETT: This Government is committed to the environment and committed to public transport and we can see from the investment in public transport of $1.7 billion to the Auckland rail network and $485 million to the Wellington network that we are effectively supporting electric trains in our transport spend.Denis O'Rourke: How could he not be concerned when electric locomotives economically capable of full refurbishment are to be replaced with cheap poor quality energy-inefficient Chinese diesel locomotives which will add thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases as well as other pollutants every year?Hon DAVID BENNETT: KiwiRail is encouraging customers to use freight by rail and that will help reduce carbon emissions and also provide a reliable service. Even when locomotives that are diesel are doing the heavy hauling every tonne of freight moved by rail has 66 percent fewer emissions than by road. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am having difficulty hearing both the question and the answers.Denis O'Rourke: Why is he not using the statement of intent process with KiwiRail to see that the de-electrification process does not proceed coupled with more direct Crown investment in the railway system so that a fully electrified main trunk line can be achieved?Hon DAVID BENNETT: The decision around the North Island main trunk railway line is one for KiwiRail and it is an operational decision that it has made.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Supplementary question Mr Speaker?Denis O'Rourke: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a point of order first.Denis O'Rourke: The question was specifically about why the statement of intent process was not being used. It has got nothing to do with anything about KiwiRail's operational decisions being concerned.Mr SPEAKER: Yes and I agree and I was very tempted to rule the question out because I do not see that it has any ministerial responsibility for the Minister of Transport. That question as phrased should have been addressed to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises.Hon Dr Nick Smith: Could the Minister advise the House whether the new locomotives have Chinese-sounding names?Mr SPEAKER: Order! Such a question is not going to help the order of the House. Are there further supplementary questions?Sue Moroney: Does he agree with David Bennett who said in his speech on the Road User Charges Amendment Bill If it is a diesel train it is a dirty train."; if so has he faced vigorous lobbying from the new Associate Minister to keep electric trains on the electrified part of the main trunk line?Mr SPEAKER: There are two supplementary questions there. The Minister is welcome to address one or both.Hon DAVID BENNETT: On behalf of the Minister of Transport I have full faith in my Associate Minister.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I hope it is a serious one.Grant Robertson: Oh it is a very serious one.Mr SPEAKER: Grant Robertson—a point of order.Grant Robertson: If you could advise the House on the process when a Minister actively misleads the House.Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a helpful point of order but that did not surprise me.Sue Moroney: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was not addressed. I asked whether he agreed with the statement from David Bennett and whether he had faced any lobbying from David Bennett.Mr SPEAKER: No no. The question was very definitely addressed. There were two questions; that was the difficulty. The Minister addressed them."