Foss Craig: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Foss Craig: Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:655;Page:4727] 
CRAIG FOSS (National—Tukituki) 
: 
 I rise for a short speech on the second reading of the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading Forestry Sector) Amendment Bill. I agree with the point the previous speaker Charles Chauvel noted regarding deforestation. I agree wholeheartedly and totally and I hope that deforestation has in fact ended. There are many reasons why it may have ended—the member alluded to some of the possibilities it is true—and the consequences of deforestation for New Zealand our obligations and the larger economy are very very serious indeed. So I acknowledge and agree with that particular point from the previous speaker. 
I am a member of the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee and I take this moment to thank all the members of that committee who I believe will be participating in the debate in its various stages tonight assuming the bill passes each stage. I was also on the Finance and Expenditure Committee last year when the various emissions trading scheme bills came through and I think that it is fair to acknowledge that all participants have moved on a fair bit from some of the debates of last year to the point we are now at. We are here discussing an amendment to some detail of existing legislation and not actually debating the need for the legislation full stop. Many submitters who submitted a second time around—admittedly not on this bill but on the emissions trading scheme bills themselves—have also moved quite a long way and are debating and submitting on implementation and execution of the scheme rather than on whether we should have it. Of course there are some exceptions and I am sure I will be receiving emails from many of the submitters as I speak but I am very encouraged that across Parliament the debate is I think down to the details. Yes there may be some political points to be made as the previous speaker did a little but there is a very good focus on the greater good. So I acknowledge the genuine effort and cooperation in getting to where we are now with regard to all things in this Parliament to do with emissions trading and climate change. 
I acknowledge that in relation to the bill we have before us much discussion was had leading up to the time the bill came into the House and before it went to the select committee. I also acknowledge the initiative of the Opposition and Mr Chauvel in regard to the Supplementary Order Paper he brought in which the committee discussed and accepted without amendment. The bill we have before us is slightly different to the one that arrived before the select committee which is a credit to the work of the committee and an acknowledgment of the Supplementary Order Paper from Mr Chauvel. 
This is the first piece of legislation to go through the Emissions Trading Scheme Review Committee albeit a somewhat small piece of legislation about moving some dates out as the Minister for Climate Change Issues alluded to. But it gives worth and value to the work of the committee. We have heard from many many submitters on all things to do with emissions trading but particularly as both the Minister and the previous speaker noted on very very contentious issues on and around forestry: pre-1990 and post-1990 forest land; land less than 50 hectares or 50 hectares or more; and the issues that many Maori landowners forestry owners and managers have raised. I note also that the Minister has signalled there may well be a more substantive piece of legislation towards the end of the year. I am hopeful of a continuation of the cooperation across Parliament that we have seen thus far. 
To pick up on one point of the previous speaker I note that the National-led Government put before the electorate last year its intentions and principles on the emissions trading scheme. There was nothing too controversial about those. They provided some certainty as to where a National Government would go and about the framework with which the National Government might review or have a look at issues around climate change and emissions trading. Again I celebrate and acknowledge that point. I just cannot say enough about the buy-in and cooperation across the parties. 
I make one final point before I close. The previous speaker also noted that some things have changed and that there is existing legislation of which this bill amends a small part—although a very important part of course. But we are moving towards the Copenhagen conference and there is a need for New Zealand to confront and really address some of the harder issues and to supply some certainty where there is uncertainty which is not just around forestry but also on where the Crown and all the other participants such as liquid fuels and stationary energy—you name it—sit in relation to the emissions trading scheme as the previous speaker alluded to. It is very important that by the time we get to Copenhagen and appear on the international stage we can hold our heads high and stand proud because we are making substantive sensible and pragmatic solutions and doing our bit for the world and for climate change and we are doing it right here in New Zealand with a constant look at what our competitors are doing. We compete with our friends just across the Ditch in Australia but on many things we can sit together and perhaps start to align as to where we will end up and where we will be by 2020. 
Much information came out of question time today. There was even a new discussion arising from a question from the Greens which again points to the fact that we are now taking the debate much further than the question of whether we should have an emissions trading scheme. There has been some quite sensible considered and pragmatic thought as to how New Zealand can do its bit have an emissions trading scheme and fit with the unique features of our economy. I look forward to the Committee stage and to hearing other speakers on this bill and I acknowledge again the cooperation of all parties so far. Thank you.