Shaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeShaw James: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 02 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4162. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]2.JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green)to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Can I just begin by congratulating the member on his election as co-leader of the Green Party. In response to the question the answer is yes.James Shaw: Does he stand by his statement about the Green Party made this morning that “We’re not saying we’re opposed to working with them on issues but we work with every political party on issues.”; if so does he see climate change as an issue worth working on?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In answer to the first part of the question yes.James Shaw: Does he believe that the 1993 cross-party accord on superannuation is an example of consensus politics that has been positive for the country; if so why will he not seek to build cross-party consensus on climate change given that both are examples of issues that carry an enormous potential cost to taxpayers?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think that the Government has been quite clear about climate change. It has got the emissions trading scheme and it is in the process of going through a consultation process on what our post-2020 targets should be. I think what is very clear is that the Greens’ perspective on what New Zealanders should have to pay when it comes to climate change is far more significant than what the Government believes the economy can bear. A target of a 40 percent reduction on 1990 levels would be disastrous for the New Zealand economy.James Shaw: Which of the following options creates a better framework for New Zealand businesses to thrive: option A a stable predictable and sensible price signal on carbon that is backed by all major political parties; or option B policy settings that change with every change of Government?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Option C: do not vote for a change of Government and you will get continuity.James Shaw: Is he aware of the cross-party accord in the United Kingdom on climate change signed by David Cameron Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband; and given the success of that accord there why is he not open to negotiating a similar—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member has every right to ask this question and I wish it to be heard. The member can start his question again.James Shaw: Is he aware of the cross-party accord in the United Kingdom on climate change and given the success of that accord there why is he not open to negotiating a similar arrangement here in New Zealand?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: If the member is going to model himself on Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband I suggest that while he is having his welcoming and congratulatory drinks that he also has his farewell drinks.James Shaw: So is he—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! This is a point of order.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I listened to that question very carefully and to the answer as well. The question was asked twice. The answer in no way sought to address the question.Mr SPEAKER: I have some sympathy for the point of view that the member is raising but the difficulty that I have is that the first question asked which then caused some disorder mentioned some other names that were not in the supplementary question. On that basis—I agree that it was a marginal call—I decided to proceed with the question as asked and the Prime Minister in answering it referred to some parts of the first question that were not exactly repeated in the second supplementary question.James Shaw: Is the Prime Minister saying that we in New Zealand cannot achieve something that bitter rivals in the UK can achieve by putting their differences aside on the issue of climate change and since when did he set his political sights so low?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is quite clear that different political parties have different views when it comes to climate change. What is true is the Government is going through a consultation process for the target that it intends to take to Paris. If the member wants to have his political party actually go through the process and put in a submission as part of the consultation process the Government will consider it along with all other submissions.James Shaw: Why will he not put politics aside and seek to work with other parties to reach a lasting and durable cross-party agreement on the climate that puts in place an emissions reduction target that New Zealanders can be proud of?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is pretty clear that the Greens want to have a reduction target that is significantly greater than what either the economy or consumers can afford or what would be fair. When the member says that he wants to have discussion and consultation with the Government what he really means is that he wants the Government to see it the Greens’ way and in my view that would be disastrous for the economy.