Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Carter David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8612] 
5.  
Hon DAVID CARTER (NZ National) 
 to the  
Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change 
: Has the Government withdrawn or declined part-funding any research aimed at decreasing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and increasing productivity? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Racing) 
 on behalf of the 
 Convenor Ministerial Group on Climate Change 
: The Government’s investment in research into agricultural greenhouse gas emissions is now more than five times what it was in 1999. Researchers compete for this funding and while some have succeeded others have not. 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Minister therefore aware of a project at Lincoln University that was being funded two to one by the private sector which could potentially reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 80 percent and is now under threat because it was rejected in the latest Government funding round? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I have been informed of that situation. The reality is that applications for money from the Foundation for Research Science and Technology in this area are 300 percent over-subscribed. It is not the Minister’s role to make judgments on which projects should be supported but the reality that so many people are making applications indicates a growing awareness of the importance of this issue and the enthusiasm with which mainstream organisations are taking it on board. 
Janet Mackey 
: Will the Government continue its current level of investment in research into agricultural greenhouse gas emissions? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: Yes the Government intends to continue investing almost $5 million a year of taxpayer funds in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions research. As I said earlier this is more than five times the level invested in 1999 under the previous Government. 
Gerrard Eckhoff 
: How many carbon credits of the 4 million recently released by the Government and appropriated from the wider agricultural industry have been given to Meridian Energy for supposed climate-friendly developments in New Zealand and how many carbon credits from the same source have been given to the agricultural industry to fund research into supposed climate-friendly developments such as methane emissions from livestock? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I cannot answer that question as I am not aware of any carbon credits being allocated either to Meridian Energy or to farmers although I am aware that any farmers who put some of their land or forest into permanent protection will receive the credits for that. 
Bernie Ogilvy 
: Does the Minister have concerns regarding the criteria that the Foundation for Research Science and Technology must use when deciding on applications given that research projects that are of obvious value to New Zealand’s economy are being rejected; if so what will he do about it? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: I believe that the Foundation for Research Science and Technology is well focused and assesses all of these applications in a very fair and comprehensive way. They are all very important. As I said before the fact that there are so many applications for research focused on agricultural greenhouse gases indicates a growing awareness of the situation and its importance for New Zealand’s economy into the future. 
Hon David Carter 
: Is the Government not now planning to invoke the flatulence tax until 2012 as stated in a newspaper article written by the member of Parliament for Invercargill Mark Peck who also stated in the same article that farmers would now be the recipients of the transfer of their own carbon credits? 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR 
: That member is not correct. There will be no emission taxes until 2012 in respect of the agricultural sector. What has been proposed—and might not yet be necessary—is that the agricultural sector be asked to contribute towards a research levy to the tune of $8.4 million. The Government is actively engaged with industry leaders in an attempt—and I am sure a very optimistic attempt—to reach a suitable outcome in that area. 
Hon David Carter 
: I seek leave to table an article written by Mr Peck entitled “Never let the facts spoil a good story”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the article. Is there any objection? There is.