Sio William: Environmental Reporting Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSio William: Environmental Reporting Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 23 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4680. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere):I wish to move Supplementary Order Paper 92 in my name. Before I get on to that I simply want to say to the Minister for the Environment in response to the Minister’s comments with the greatest respect one of the big issues that was raised by submitters on Part 2 of this bill was the need for independence. Many of the submitters who presented themselves before the select committee did not feel that clause 18 as it stands—and the other relevant clauses—provides that independence for reporting back to the House.But in terms of Supplementary Order Paper 92 in my name clause 7 makes reference to the contents of synthesis reports that must be prepared and tabled. In subclause (2) of clause 7 it goes further to talk about the how the synthesis reports must describe “(a) changes to the state of New Zealand’s environment over time including if information in the report is able to be compared with that in a previous synthesis report changes to the state of the environment since that previous report was published: (b) how the state of New Zealand’s environment measures against national or international standards.” My Supplementary Order Paper then asks that this Committee support the insertion of: “(c) how the state of New Zealand’s economic and environmental activities impacts on the Pacific region’s climate and ecosystems and its people.”Further I ask the Committee to also consider in clause 10 “Content of domain reports”. Again in clause 10(2) it says: “In addition to the matters set out in subsection (1) [above] each domain report must describe—(a) changes to the state of the domain over time including if information in the report is able to be compared with that in a previous domain report changes to the state of the domain since that previous report was published: (b) how the state of the domain measures against national or international standards.” My Supplementary Order Paper then asks that we insert a new paragraph (c) in clause 10(2) that says: “how the state of New Zealand’s economic and environmental activities impacts on the Pacific region’s climate and ecosystems and its people.”A couple of weeks ago I was privileged to attend the Fiji parliamentarians’ workshop on key issues for the region. One of those key issues was the environmental impact of climate change. It was interesting in the discussion that the Pacific Islands are well aware of what is happening to the region to the ocean. The earth is warming the climate has changed and that is having an impact on rising sea water levels. They acknowledge that the acidic nature of the ocean is growing which in turn has an impact on fresh water and on agricultural production. They asked me whether New Zealand does care about what happens to them in the Pacific region. I said: “Well sometimes we do and sometimes we do not.” It was a general statement because often in New Zealand we forget that the climate change and our activities whether they be economic or environmental have an impact on what happens to the Pacific Island region.In fact it is the belief of the Pacific Island countries that the harm that they are experiencing—with rising sea water levels etc. and the frequency of the tropical cyclones and the impact that those cyclones cause—is not caused necessarily by the activities of Pacific Island nations themselves but is more so caused by industrial nations. When the Pacific Island nations talk about industrial nations they look to New Zealand their neighbour they look to Australia their closest neighbour and then to other countries in the vicinity of the Asia-Pacific region.I think this legislation is an opportunity for us because when it comes to addressing climate change it is a leadership issue. It requires individuals to stand up and be counted. It requires Governments to stand up and be counted. The Pacific Island nations have for many many years attempted to voice this at the highest levels at the international forums. Whether they be the United Nations General Assembly or whether they be with international organisations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union such as the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association or with Parliamentarians for Global Action they take every opportunity to try to raise this. Sadly the industrial nations do not necessarily support that voice. They might shake hands and pat people on the back but they do not take a strong view in support of this. I think this legislation is an opportunity for us.It is a simple matter: we are asking that our officials report to the Government of the day in terms of how our internal actions whether they be economic activities or whether they be environmental activities—how does that impact on the region? How does that impact on our Pacific Island neighbours? I think it is a good starting point because with that information the Government of the day—whether it be National or whether it be Labour in 2017; whatever—can use that information to develop strategies to develop policy ideas to even target aid projects in the region projects that will help it to address and mitigate some of the impact of climate change. I am not saying that what we will do is simply find the answers to all the issues that the Pacific Islands are experiencing. What I am saying as a close neighbour in recognition of our constitutional relationship with many of the Pacific Islands and in recognition of this special relationship that we have with the Pacific is that I think that we have an opportunity a leadership opportunity to know the state of our internal affairs and how they impact on our neighbours.I was talking to a member of the New Zealand First Party earlier Denis O’Rourke and what is interesting is that he just came back from an international conference where the same issue was raised. We would say that countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati are going underwater. There are huge questions that we have got to start asking ourselves as to where these people go in the event that they do get swallowed up. So issues like who then owns that piece of sea water issues like how do we protect the ocean and the many benefits that it contributes to people—The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Trevor Mallard): I do have a dilemma here. The member is straying outside the debate. I was just about to stand up when I had some advice from my right that I should do so and I did not want to be seen to be being advised by members on my right. But Mr Scott was correct and the member is straying—it is just that he was disorderly in indicating it.Su’a WILLIAM SIO: The point I am making is that I am asking the Government to support this Supplementary Order Paper to amend clause 7 and clause 10. It is nothing; it is simply asking the officials to report on our state of affairs—our internal activities whether they be economic or environmental—what kind of impact that does have on the climate on the Pacific region on its climate on the ocean on its ecosystem and on the people themselves because at some time in the future we have got to prepare for that impact.I want to read out a statement that Peter Dunne wrote in his policy of last year. He said: “…the benefits of responsible and practical action now will be realised in the long-term health and prosperity of New Zealand’s environment and its people.” and I would say not only New Zealand’s environment and its people but also the environment of the Pacific region. I was told that the environment is a defining issue. If we believe that and we accept that that is genuine I would ask this Minister for the Environment to respond to say whether he thinks this is a good idea. And if he thinks this is a good idea then I challenge him to introduce it in the bill in this reading here.Further I would say again as in the very beginning with the greatest respect to the Minister the reason why the Labour Party will not support this bill in its entirety is there are many significant individuals who pay attention to our climate and who have an interest in the Government doing the right thing who do not feel confident enough that the bill as it stands ensures that we have independence in how it is to be reported or in the Minister not being able to have an influence on what gets reported. More so they do not have the confidence that what we are getting in terms of the reports will be of best practice. I think if we are wanting to establish and reaffirm our integrity as a nation that is interested in this affair—[Bell rung] Mr Chair.