ACT Leader John Banks
October 18 2012

ETS: Families Before Forestry

The Government should not change its position on the importing of international carbon credits, ACT Leader John Banks said today.

"Any restriction on importing foreign credits should be made on the basis of environmental integrity, not forestry industry lobbying," Mr. Banks said.

"I hear the forestry industry saying they want to receive higher carbon prices, but I don't hear the industry telling New Zealanders who's going to pay.

"They don’t tell workers that higher carbon prices will make exporting employers less competitive.

"They don’t tell motorists that higher carbon prices mean higher pump prices.

"They don't tell parents that higher carbon prices will mean higher food prices.

"I wrote to the Minister for Climate Change Issues asking him not to place undue restrictions on foreign carbon credits so that New Zealanders would not be forced to pay more for carbon credits than foreigners do.

"I urge the Minister to ignore the lobbying from those with vested interests.

"We should not be putting jobs, petrol prices, and food prices at risk simply to prop up the forestry industry,” Mr. Banks said.

ENDS

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