6. Question No. 6—EnvironmentHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for the EnvironmentQuestion No. 6—Environment6. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister for the Environment: Does the Government support the replacement and reform of the Resource Management Act 1991?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister for the Environment): Yes because it takes too long costs too much and hasn't protected the environment. That's why this Government has funded its replacement and has started this important work. Over the nine years of the previous Government the Resource Management Act (RMA) was made longer and more complex and we're fixing it.Hon Judith Collins: With the working group investigating the RMA due to report back in mid-2020 will he commit to introducing legislation to address the underperformance during this term of Parliament?Hon DAVID PARKER: We've already got a bill in the House that starts on that journey. I don't think that the full legislative process in respect of the second bill is likely to be completed before the election.Hon Judith Collins: Does he mean then that he will not commit to introducing any legislation recommended by the working group during this term of Parliament?Hon DAVID PARKER: No I don't but I'd also note that I've read the member's discussion document and given our political history no one would expect me to see her discussion document as a gift my true love gave to me—using the words of the Twelve Days of Christmas"—but I do welcome that National has finally fronted up with something on the RMA after nine long years.Hon Judith Collins: Why did the Minister say to the Environmental Defence Society earlier this year in relation to RMA reform "The Ministry for the Environment actually wanted to charge into this straight after the last election but I stopped them from doing so."?Hon DAVID PARKER: Because it's true—because it would have been premature to start at that time. Further I have read the National Party discussion document—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I know this is not a patsy from one's own side but the member I think is going to have trouble linking that. Hon DAVID PARKER: Well I—SPEAKER: No I've ruled it out. It's not an area that the member is responsible for. I let him go on too long last time.Hon Judith Collins: If he wasn't ready to have the Ministry for the Environment actually charge into the RMA straight after the last election then why after thinking about it for nine long years wasn't he ready?Hon DAVID PARKER: The reason that we chose to focus first on creating an urban development agency was because the housing crisis was so serious. The reason we started with real efforts on reduced water quality was because water quality was degrading. The reason that we progressed the climate change response bill and the zero carbon bill was that climate changing emissions had risen over the prior years of the last Government and as a consequence we thought it was wise to prioritise those intermediate steps above the holistic review of the RMA that we've already got under way.Hon Chris Hipkins: Has the Minister seen any evidence that rushed reform of the RMA would actually make it longer and more complex?Hon DAVID PARKER: I have and it does seem screamingly illogical to me to repeal such an important piece of legislation as the RMA to replace it with a transitional law that hasn't yet been designed within your first 100 days and then propose to further replace it with something even more substantial that hasn't been designed either.SPEAKER: Order!Hon Judith Collins: Does he support splitting the environment and developmental planning sides into two separate Acts?Hon DAVID PARKER: That is one of the issues that's being considered but it's Christmas. It's traditionally a time to give presents not receive them and yet I note that the most recent gifts to the country in this respect seem to have taken the Environmental Defence Society's proposals rewrapped them and given them away as if they're their own. Not even the Grinch used to do that. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister on this troublesome legislation that he's wrestling with—and apparently now the National Party is as well—when was it brought in; in what year and by what party? Hon DAVID PARKER: It was passed in 1991 and it came into effect in 1992 in this sort of decade—by the National Party at the time. It does seem that some of the half-baked ideas to somewhat contemptuously replace it—it's a fitting end to the same year when the deputy leader of the Opposition gave the Deputy Prime Minister wilting flowers. Hon Judith Collins: Was that the same legislation that the Deputy Prime Minister voted for when he was in Cabinet in 1991?SPEAKER: Order! Order! No—I'm going to deal with it; the member's not. The member who asked the question knows well that that was out of order and she's getting very close to being disorderly in asking it. Hon David Parker: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table the Resource Management Act review panel's issues and options paper as a Christmas gift to the member opposite. SPEAKER: I think if the member has things he wishes to give to the member as opposed to the House he should do it privately."