All Sectors Target The Govt’s ETS Bill
September 4th, 2008
The Govt’s Emissions Trading Scheme, arguably the biggest economic reform since those of the 1980s, was under heavy crossfire this week, from business, from the Federation of Maori Authorities, from Opposition parties in Parliament, and even one of its support parties United Future. UF leader Peter Dunne called for the Bill to be deferred for six months. He says there is no need to ram it through Parliament and it should be dealt with “in a calm and rational manner.” National’s Nick Smith says the Govt is proposing making 768 amendments to the Bill during the Committee stage and he doubts if Labour MPs have read or understood them. Climate Change Minister David Parker says the Bill has been through an exhaustive Select Committee and it has been worked through in great detail. Most of the amendments are technical. Several National MPs talked of dire consequences for agriculture, but Green party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons who wants the sector brought in before 2013, says it is being rewarded with free credits until 2019, “extremely generous treatment.” Parker says there is no evidence the scheme will have an adverse impact on agriculture.
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Duncan Cotterill