Brown Peter: Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Brown Peter: Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:646;Page:15606] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First supports the Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill. I repeat what I said in the first reading: it was a sad day when the Government had to produce such a bill that basically came about because the power was shut off to the Muliaga family household where Mrs Muliaga was dependent on electricity for her life. I have just come down to the Chamber to speak on this bill and I have heard that a National Party member said earlier that it was worthwhile to cut the power off because the family had not paid their bill. That is absolutely appalling. A National Party member said that. 
Hon George Hawkins 
: Who said that? 
PETER BROWN 
: I understand that it was Mr Bob Clarkson. I also understand he was asked to apologise because a Government member took offence. Mr Clarkson refused and he left the Chamber having made that statement. I think the National Party should be big enough to stand up and apologise on behalf of Mr Clarkson. I see that the junior Opposition whip is taking it seriously and I would hope he would give some consideration to that. I do not mind yielding to the member if he wants to apologise on behalf of Mr Clarkson. That statement was absolutely outrageous and New Zealand First will be looking at the  
Hansard 
 to make sure we have this factually correct. 
Lindsay Tisch 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The member is referring to someone who has left the Chamber and the Assistant Speaker at the time Marian Hobbs said that the member was not allowed back into the Chamber for the rest of the sitting. That is the discipline that has been imposed on the member—notwithstanding what the member has said—and I think that ends the matter. He is not allowed back into the Chamber for the actions he took and that should end the matter. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Yes the matter has been dealt with. We are on the third reading of the Electricity (Disconnection and Low Fixed Charges) Amendment Bill. Please speak on that or we will move to another speaker. Thank you. 
PETER BROWN 
: Far be it from me to question your ruling but I will say that this matter will be raised in other forums if I cannot speak further on it today. But let me just say that the incident that gave rise to this bill was a serious issue at the time; a lady died and it resulted in this bill. 
New Zealand First is totally supportive of this bill. I do not think the National Party agreed to send it to the select committee but it has certainly changed its mind on it now which is somewhat commendable. 
New Zealand First was not represented on the Commerce Committee and I see a comment about progressive pricing in the commentary on the bill. It states: “Some submitters said that they would prefer progressive pricing to low fixed charge tariffs. This would mean that an electricity retailer would be required to charge the domestic consumer at a rate lower than the standard price for a specified portion of the consumer’s annual electricity consumption.” New Zealand First does not know much about that system and the select committee dismissed it. I would have thought it would not be a bad idea to include in the commentary some details about that because electricity pricing now is one of the biggest concerns that New Zealanders face—particularly those on low fixed incomes. They are very very worried about the ever-escalating price of electricity. New Zealand First would have loved to know more about what this progressive pricing entails but the select committee dismissed it; I guess that is the end of it. 
I do not think there is much more we need to say on this bill. It is a very straightforward bill. It has gone through the House pretty well unchallenged and New Zealand First is pleased to see it move forward.