Climate Change Bill attacked in Parliament

Climate Change Minister David Parker told Parliament today the Government's emissions trading scheme (ETS) was robust and thoroughly prepared, but it came under fierce attack when legislation that sets it up was debated.

The Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill is going through its committee stage, the most detailed part of the legislative process when each clause can be debated.

National's climate change spokesman, Nick Smith, said the Government was rushing it through with reckless irresponsibility.

"This bill has huge implications for every household and every business in this country," Dr Smith said.

"Don't do this to our Parliament, don't risk New Zealand's reputation with such shonky law-making."

Dr Smith said the Government was proposing making 785 amendments to the bill during its committee stage, and he doubted most Labour MPs had read or understood them.

ACT leader Rodney Hide said climate change and global warming was a hoax.

"The data and the hypothesis do not hold together," he said.

"Al Gore is a phoney and a fraud on this issue and the emissions trading scheme is a worldwide scam and a swindle."

Mr Hide said enacting the legislation would cost New Zealand dearly by driving up the cost of basic goods and ruining businesses and farmers.

"The impact is truly shocking...all we have is a computer model, the answers are written on assumptions."

United Future leader Peter Dunne said there was no need to ram the bill through Parliament just to satisfy the Government's agenda.

"No harm would be caused by deferring it by six months. It deserves greater attention and we should deal with it in a calm and rational manner," he said.

Mr Parker said the bill had been through an exhaustive select committee process and there had been 56 meetings with stakeholders.

"This has been worked through in great detail and the process has been robust," he said.

"There's a difficult balance and we think we've got it about right."

Mr Parker said most of the amendments the Government was going to make to the bill were technical.

The ETS will eventually bring all sectors of the economy under a regime which will set limits on the amount of greenhouse gas they can emit.

Those that breach their limit will have to buy credits from those that are below their cap.

Electricity comes under it in 2010, transport in 2011 and agriculture in 2013.

Several National Party MPs warned of dire consequences for agriculture, but Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, who wanted the sector brought in before 2013, said it produced 50 percent of greenhouse gases and it was being protected for five years.

"And it is being rewarded with free credits until 2019, it's extremely generous treatment for agriculture," she said.

Mr Parker said there was no evidence the ETS would have an adverse impact on agriculture.

The Government last week reached agreements with the Greens and New Zealand First which has given it a safe majority to get the bill passed before the election.

It is expected to take up most of Parliament's time this week and possibly next week as well.