Norman Russel: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNorman Russel: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2269. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes like the one that the official cash rate is 3.5 percent the unemployment rate is 5.7 percent the current account deficit is approximately 2.6 percent and the current inflation rate is approximately 0.8 percent and printing money is a really bad idea.Dr Russel Norman: Does he stand by his statement that “We are a fair-minded people … Tackling climate change requires global action and [as a responsible international citizen] New Zealand should stand up and be counted …”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes.Dr Russel Norman: Does he accept the findings of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change which stated that current climate change projections mean that there will be a likely increase in both global mean tropical cyclone maximum wind speeds and precipitation rates or to put it in plain English that climate change leads to more intense and stronger cyclones?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the balance of scientific opinion would support the view that climate change can lead to greater climatic conditions like cyclones but I would just caution the member that there is no evidence to support the view that Cyclone Pam is a consequence of climate change. It is simply mere speculation if he did suggest it is if he is doing that.Dr Russel Norman: Does he accept the findings of climate scientist Dr Nick Klingaman who said: “In a warmer world [the] combination of rising sea levels and more-intense tropical cyclones may increase the damage caused by any individual cyclone …”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Could the member just repeat the question sorry?Mr SPEAKER: I can ask the member. Dr Russel Norman supplementary question.Dr Russel Norman: Does he accept the findings of climate scientist Dr Nick Klingaman who said: “In a warmer world [the] combination of rising sea levels and more-intense tropical cyclones may increase the damage caused by any individual cyclone …”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I have not seen those particular reports. As I said earlier I think it is well accepted actually that climate change if it continues to become a more and more significant issue has environmental impacts. So that is why New Zealand takes its responsibilities seriously it is why we have an emissions trading scheme it is why we are investing heavily in science and it is why we will be taking a responsible target to Paris. We are a small country but we do our bit.Dr Russel Norman: By how much have New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions increased since he has been in Government?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Despite the misinformation that the member has been out there saying the advice I have is that New Zealand’s total emissions now are 3 percent lower than they were at their peak in 2005. That is New Zealand’s net emissions are at about the same level as they were in 2007. A National-led Government is doing a pretty good job in this area.Dr Russel Norman: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I thank the Prime Minister for his answer—Mr SPEAKER: Can I just have the point of order please?Dr Russel Norman: The question was about since he has been in Government not since any of those other dates. It is about since the Prime Minister has been—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No no. It is not about designing an answer to satisfy the member who is asking the question. The question was asked and without doubt the Prime Minister has addressed the question. If that is not to the satisfaction of the member the way forward is to ask further insightful questions.Dr Russel Norman: In light of the fact that New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 20 percent since the Prime Minister has been in office—Hon Member: Not true.Dr Russel Norman: —which is a simple fact—does he think that his Government has been a good Pacific neighbour and a responsible international citizen?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the member is being extremely selective with the truth and his facts are incorrect.Dr Russel Norman: Does the Prime Minister then deny that from 2008 to 2012 according to the official statistics from his Government New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 20 percent?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: On the advice I have had the misinformation that the member is putting out is literally that—misinformation. He is being selective with the truth.Dr Russel Norman: In light of the fact that the Prime Minister does not know what the net greenhouse gas emissions are under his Government does he believe he is being—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. You have just reprimanded the questioner for his expectation that he should be able to design an answer to a question but then have allowed him to say that given he did not get the designer answer that he wanted that means the Prime Minister does not know. That is a completely unreasonable approach and quite outside the Standing Orders.Dr Russel Norman: Speaking to the point of order Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: I will hear from Dr Russel Norman.Dr Russel Norman: The reason why I did that was that the Prime Minister has been accusing me repeatedly of misleading and I am not. I am simply stating the facts.Mr SPEAKER: That does not mean that the member then has the right to defy the Standing Orders which mean that a supplementary question should be concise and it should not contain imputations. I did allow the question through. I was probably very generous to the member to allow the question through but a question like that then gives very wide licence to the Minister in this case the Prime Minister when he comes to answer the question. Now the member would make more progress as I pointed out to him earlier by trying to make his questions more concise and then I can assist him to try to get the answers he may be hoping for.Dr Russel Norman: Does he believe that New Zealand has been a good Pacific neighbour and a responsible international citizen in light of the fact that since he has been Prime Minister of New Zealand New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 20 percent according to the statistics from his Government?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In terms of the latter part of the question I reject the member’s suggestion. In terms of the former part of the question actually New Zealand has been a very good Pacific neighbour. The member may remember that it was under the leadership of a National-led Government that we hosted the renewable energy conference here in New Zealand where we have been investing heavily in ensuring that Pacific neighbours actually are no longer reliant on the importation of fossil fuels and that over time they will have a variety of options but most likely it will be solar and wind available to them to stop the importation. New Zealand has been doing the same things for instance down in Antarctica. New Zealand has been investing extremely heavily in research when it comes to agriculture and in fact the Government is on track not only to meet its 2008-12 commitment to reduce net emissions to the 1990 levels but we are actually on track to achieve—Dr Megan Woods: No you’re not.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: —the objective of reducing emissions further to a minimum of minus 5 percent and yes we are.Dr Russel Norman: In light of that answer is he surprised then to find that the Ministry for the Environment in its official projections shows that New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions will increase by 48 percent in just 10 years according to the report from his own Government?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is assuming no other action. It is one of the reasons why the Government has been investing heavily. The member is aware of the fact that over half of New Zealand’s emissions come from agriculture. If the member is suggesting that New Zealand destocks shoots animals and reduces its world food supply then he is welcome to do that. That is one of his more daft ideas but at least it would have some idea about the economy because any of the people who want to replace him do not even know what the—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not going to help the order of the House.Dr Russel Norman: Is he even aware of the comments from the President of Kiribati Anote Tong who said of climate change and its effect on the Pacific yesterday: “It is a catastrophe that impinges on our rights… and our survival into the future.”; and will he take action to actually reduce New Zealand’s emissions in light of those comments?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am well and truly aware of the President of Kiribati’s comments. I have had numerous discussions and have been involved in numerous meetings with him. The Government can be proud of the actions it has taken when it comes to climate change. On this side of the House we actually stick to the facts and we know what climate change is. On that side of the House they do not even know what the official cash rate is.Dr Russel Norman: I seek leave to table a research paper from the Parliamentary Library showing net emissions have increased 20 percent under this Government.Mr SPEAKER: Well if it is a research paper that is prepared by the Parliamentary Library it is then available. It was not specifically prepared—I will get the member to clarify.Dr Russel Norman: It was specifically prepared on my request.Mr SPEAKER: OK on that basis I will put the leave to table this source from the Parliamentary Library on the effects of climate. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I seek leave to table a report that shows the official cash rate is 3.5 percent the unemployment rate is 5.7 percent the current account deficit—Mr SPEAKER: Order! No. All that information is freely available. [Interruption] Order!Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a different point of order.Mr SPEAKER: If it is a point of order I wish to hear it.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I seek leave to table a report that shows that 90 percent of New Zealand children are not going without lunch.Mr SPEAKER: And again I think that is a political matter. It is not going to be helped by the tabling of any report.