30 April 2002

Government Sells Out New Zealand, Gives Sop To Loony Green Fringe

New Zealand First is appalled that the Government has decided to appease loony fringe environmentalists in the Green Party ahead of the social and economic development of New Zealanders by being the first country in the world to impose a carbon tax.

“There is a very good reason why no other country is introducing a carbon tax and New Zealand First opposes this barmy policy,” said Leader Winston Peters today.

“There is also a very good reason why the US Congress opposed the Kyoto Agreement almost unanimously. They correctly saw that these policies would be disastrous to their industry, employment and ultimately their standard of living. Unlike our own government they were not prepared to be intimidated by hysterical environmental fringe groups.

“It is clear that this policy has not been worked through. Even within the environmental lobby there is opposition to a carbon tax.

“How would they enforce it? In order for any tax to be just then it must apply to all offending parties. All living things emit carbon including humans. Are they going to tax DOC for Mt Ruapehu? In 1995 Mt Ruapehu was New Zealand’s biggest emitter of carbon into the atmosphere. The only way to accurately enforce this tax requires sophisticated carbon monitoring of every chimney.

“This policy is all about appeasing the troglodyte element in the Green movement that says animals are more important than humans, and industry is inherently bad.

ENDS

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