Nick Smith National Environment Spokesperson

2 July 2002

Greens criticism of National all hazy -- Smith

"Jeanette Fitzsimons' criticisms of National's Environment and Conservation Policy - which was released today - for not addressing such issues as climate change, fishing or biosecurity are simply wrong," says National's Environment spokesman Nick Smith.

"If the Greens had done their homework properly then its 'co-leader' would have realised that National has already covered these issues in specific, separate policy statements.

"We released our Biosecuirty and Climate Change Policies back in February and Ms Fitzsimons can look these up on National's website at: www.national.org.nz.

Meanwhile, Dr Smith says National believes that the fishing and forestry issues are so important they require separate policy statements of their own.

"Ms Fitzsimons claims that a Royal Commission of Inquiry on Water Quality is a waste of time, because the Greens know the answers. But if this is the case, then why has water quality deteriorated further while their party has held the balance of power?

"It's interesting that she labels a Water Quality Royal Commission as a 'talkfest', yet believed the one held on GM was essential. Water quality is a far bigger threat to New Zealand's environment than GM will ever be!

"The Greens may win prizes for environmental ignorance and political correctness, but National is not interested in window dressing. We want the focus to be on practical and real environmental challenges facing New Zealand," Dr Smith says.

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