5. Oil and Gas Industry—Exploration Employment and FonterraHon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime MinisterOil and Gas Industry—Exploration Employment and Fonterra5. Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her reported statement when personally receiving a petition from Greenpeace on Monday to end oil and gas exploration that the Government was actively considering" the issue?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes. I was flanked on that day by our Minister for Climate Change and our Minister of Energy and Resources and I stand by that statement. We're currently considering the block offer for 2018 and all options are on the table for that.Hon Simon Bridges: When she said on Tuesday that "we're considering everything" in regards to oil and gas exploration had she consulted the Deputy Prime Minister who also said on Tuesday "we know exactly where this is going" and "We will not compromise on what we've agreed" which is "to support the extractive industries while ensuring core conservation values"?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: He also referred to the fact that there was a decision-making process under way and that's exactly what's happening.Hon Simon Bridges: So to be clear is the Government "actively considering" everything in relation to oil and gas exploration or simply changes say to the block offer and the like with ongoing exploration allowed?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I said the Deputy Prime Minister referenced the fact that we were in the middle of a decision-making process which we are. As I've said that decision-making process will be forward looking. It's about block offers in the future and as I assured the House yesterday and have continually done so since this is not a retrospective act. Everything that is currently in place remains.Hon Simon Bridges: Is she aware that oil and gas exploration supports over 8000 jobs in Taranaki alone and that she's put those jobs at risk or at least created great uncertainty for all of the businesses involved there and does that concern her?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I absolutely dispute that. My understanding actually is that oil and gas exploration based on as the member will know older reports is that there are about 4500 people directly employed in the sector. None of those employees will be affected because as I've said this decision is about the future and everything that is currently in place will remain in place. I would however also like to point out that the Leader of the Opposition did say that "National emphasises the environment and under me I think we'll emphasise it a little more". So I'd really like to hear the Opposition's plan for dealing with this issue as well.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Prime Minister with respect to her last quote or the one that she borrowed from the leader of the National Party was that going to be a small transition or a big transition or a mythical transition?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Actually according to the same interview my recollection was that it was meant to be a just transition but I'm yet to hear the Opposition's plan for that.Hon Simon Bridges: Speaking of the environment what would be the cost to the climate if Fonterra were no longer able to use natural gas for most of their processing plants and had to revert back to coal in order to continue production and safeguard international food security?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Even Fonterra has acknowledged that they need to tackle this issue head on even if the Opposition hasn't. I'm sure I don't need to educate that member that there are already gas reserves that can run as far as 2046 and that the decisions around exploration permits this year would run for 14 years plus an extra 20 on top of that. This is about decisions that will affect the next 30 years. This is a Government willing to have that debate even if that last one wasn't.Hon James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister aware of Fonterra's plan to be carbon neutral by 2050 and to phase out coal use entirely?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Yes. They share our ambition to be carbon neutral by 2050—again something that the Opposition clearly does not.Hon James Shaw: Is looking for new fossil fuels the same thing as shutting down existing operations and what year are the existing operations currently scheduled to wind down?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I acknowledged we've not said that we would be altering current operations and a number of those fields actually have a shelf life that goes out as far as potentially 2046."