"The Green's decision to withdraw its support for changes to the aquaculture moratorium - after originally backing it - raises questions about its credibility," says National's agriculture spokesman Gavan Herlihy.

Mr Herlihy sat on the Primary Production Select Committee along with other National MPs and helped ensure changes were made to the Government's original moratorium. He says if left unchecked, the proposed moratorium would have dealt a severe setback to New Zealand's marine farming industry.

"I believe this wishy-washy attitude of the Greens shows that it can't be taken seriously as a political party.

"Despite saying it supported the changes made to the RMA (Aquaculture Moratorium) Amendment Bill in the select committee report that was only tabled last week, the Greens have now told the Government they will not back these changes when the bill is debated in the House.

Mr Herlihy says the Greens decision not to support changes to a aquaculture moratorium are made all the more senseless considering its select committee representative Ian Ewen Street issued a press release - after the report was tabled - saying the Greens supported the changes 'because otherwise some applicants would be unfairly captured by the moratorium'.

"I note the Greens - just as they did following their Waitangi Day debacle and their Treaty of Waitangi policy - have now removed this press release from their website.

However, Mr Herlihy says for people wanting confirmation of the Greens about face on the moratorium this release is now on National's website at www.national.org.nz/greens_aquaculture_pr.htm

"While Government is understandably livid with the Greens over its flip-flop, Labour MPs should get used to this type of grandstanding because - with the demise of the Alliance - the Green Party is likely to be their future coalition partners," Mr Herlihy warned.

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