4. Climate Change Policy—Rail Transport Planning and FundingJULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister for Climate Change IssuesClimate Change Policy—Rail Transport Planning and Funding4. JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to the Minister for Climate Change Issues: Does she stand by her statement we're on the right track on tackling climate change"?Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Climate Change Issues): Yes I do and to just expand on the quote it was that "Ratifying the Paris Agreement is a good way to show our strong commitment internationally but the real work happens at home and I am optimistic we're on the right track to finding better ways to live and leave this world for future generations."Julie Anne Genter: Does she agree that the real work of reducing climate pollution can be achieved only by investing in infrastructure that does not rely on fossil fuels?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I believe that it is going to take a concerted effort across everything from how we live our lives the products we use and yes infrastructure as well. Electric vehicles I am a big fan of. I also think that our renewable energy targets are good. So a whole lot of work—across forestry and everything as well.Julie Anne Genter: As climate change Minister did she agree with the decision to replace clean electric trains on the North Island rail line with diesel trains?Hon PAULA BENNETT: It was not a decision for me to agree to or not. It was an independent decision by the directors.Julie Anne Genter: Does she agree that the independent decision made by the directors was influenced by the amount of funding that is available to KiwiRail by her Government?Hon PAULA BENNETT: No and in fact I am someone who has sat over the years and watched literally hundreds of millions of dollars—Hon Steven Joyce: Billions.Hon PAULA BENNETT: —it is billions I am being told—go to KiwiRail so I do not believe it was a funding issue.Julie Anne Genter: Does she agree that the 10-year transport plan set out by her Government which will spend over $30 billion on infrastructure should consider the overall impact on climate pollution and allow for investment in rail not just highways?Hon PAULA BENNETT: We spend literally billions on rail over the years. I am aware this Government has proven itself to be a supporter of rail but we also need roads that cars can go on and that people can travel on.Julie Anne Genter: Does she agree that completing the electrification of the rail network and buying new electric trains will not only help reduce climate pollution from freight but will mean New Zealanders can reduce freight costs reduce maintenance and operational costs have cleaner and quieter transport through our towns and that that will benefit the country for generations to come; if not why not?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I believe that that would cost billions and billions of dollars. Ultimately they have decided to retain the diesel trains because it would cost more than $1 billion and would have taken years to upgrade the electric trains. I am also assured that this would have meant more trucks on the road in the interim and trucks emit 66 percent more to move the same amount of freight as a diesel train.Julie Anne Genter: Does she know that her Government could fully electrify the rail line between Auckland and Wellington allowing electric trains to go the full distance for less than the cost of 17 kilometres of "Holiday Highway" which will do nothing to reduce climate pollution or even save time for trucks?Hon PAULA BENNETT: I very much question the member's math.Marama Fox: Given that answer is there any plan for the Government to announce about reconnecting the rail line from Napier to Gisborne?Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no ministerial responsibility as Minister for Climate Change Issues for that question.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was about the relative cost of electrification and a project that the Government is currently funding. Those numbers are publicly available to the Minister.Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is not a point of order. The question has been addressed and if the member feels that there has been a misrepresentation then there is another way forward. But it is not by raising it as a point of order.David Seymour: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I just seek your guidance and clarification on when a supplementary question is appropriate. Marama Fox asked a supplementary question off the back of the Minister for Climate Change Issues citing statistics that trains actually reduce emissions. Marama Fox asked whether perhaps trains would be applied in another part of the country. Surely that is an appropriate supplementary question or is it not?Mr SPEAKER: No on this occasion it is not. There was no reference in the question from Marama Fox that in any way related to climate change issues. She simply asked whether a particular railway line would be reopened. The Minister does not have a responsibility for that whatsoever.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will deal with the point of order first.Julie Anne Genter: Sorry Mr Speaker. I called for a point of order before the supplementary question from Marama Fox.Mr SPEAKER: I do not understand now what the point of order is.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Julie Anne Genter sought a point of order from you immediately after the Minister's answer to her question but you did not hear it and you gave a supplementary question to Marama Fox. As a result Julie Anne Genter was not able to ask you to ensure that the Minister answered her question. That is what her point of order is about.Mr SPEAKER: I thought I had made it quite clear that the question that was asked by Julie Anne Genter was in my opinion then addressed by the Minister. If the member has another point of order I am happy to hear it. But if it is questioning whether the previous question asked by Julie Anne Genter had been asked and then addressed by the Minister in my opinion it had been.Julie Anne Genter: Does she really expect New Zealanders to take her Government's efforts on climate change seriously when her Government cannot produce a long-term plan for infrastructure investment that is going to reduce climate pollution in the long term?Hon PAULA BENNETT: The member will be absolutely thrilled to know that we are currently working on that very long-term plan of how we meet our nationally determined contribution for 2030 and that will certainly include emissions reduction in New Zealand.Marama Fox: Given her response that climate change and emissions will be reduced when you use rail over trucks will the Government be announcing the reopening of the Napier to Gisborne rail line?Mr SPEAKER: Well done.Hon PAULA BENNETT: I cannot answer that question because I am not the Minister of Transport. So sorry I am not sure exactly where they are as far as opening or reopening other tracks—but not intending to.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table the business case from KiwiRail cited 21 December 2016 released to us under the Official Information Act showing the switch to diesel trains will increase emissions by 12000 tonnes. Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that particular information obtained under the Official Information Act. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House."