3 Sep 2008
New Zealand : Introducing 780 amendments to the complex emissions trading legislation days before it became law was reckless and irresponsible, National Party climate change spokesman Nick Smith said yesterday in Parliament.
Dr Smith failed in his attempt to have the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill referred back to the select committee and the third reading of the legislation continued along strict party lines.
The Bill had implications for the cost of living for families and the viability of businesses that would impact for decades to come.
Parliament had a huge responsibility to get it right, he said.
"This is impossible when the minister introduces five supplementary order papers containing 77 pages of change totalling 785 amendments," he said during the committee debate.
Act New Zealand 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."
United Future leader Peter Dunne said now the Government had finally, and reluctantly, admitted that New Zealand households would get a one-off payment of $112.50 in 2010 - $2.15 a week to meet the costs of the scheme - the full scale of the "economic disaster" was becoming clear.
"The effect of this ill-conceived and badly designed scheme on the ordinary household will be devastating."
In return for soaring food, fuel and transport costs, the average New Zealand householder would be able to get to the supermarket, probably on foot, where their extra $2.15 a week would be able to buy.
• Just over a block of butter, or
• Slightly more than one loaf of bread, or
• Just over a half a packet of Weetbix, or
• One lamb chop, or
• Just less than a litre of milk, or
• Seven eggs.
"And if all the pressure drives you to drink, you'll be able to afford not quite two cans of beer."
Finance Minister Michael Cullen, in answering a question from Mr Dunne earlier in yesterday's session, said the payment was designed to compensate households for rising electricity prices.
It was possible some households would not be fully compensated but a great deal of effort had gone into making the compensation match consumer needs.
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.
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.
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