Dunne rebuts 'weird' Green science

United Future New Zealand leader, Peter Dunne, has poured scorn on Green MP Sue Kedgley's weird view of how the laws of nature work.

"Ms Kedgley has attacked my suggestion that the laws governing smoking in bars and restaurants be amended to place the onus on the owners of those places to install suitable ventilation systems that would remove second-hand smoke and thus achieve specified air quality standards. Owners who decided against that option would have to become smokefree," he said.

"Her bizarre claim is that ventilators remove the odour of smoke, but not the dangerous cancer-causing chemicals. She quotes selectively from 'experts' who addressed the select committee hearings, but ignored other expert evidence to the contrary.

"Apparently, these chemicals are so cunning they can hide away from the ventilator fans and activate themselves when another patron walks into the bar or restaurant.

"This is science from the Planet Weird, but perhaps is to be expected from an MP who once contemplated banning that dangerous substance, dihydrogen monoxide, known to the rest of us as water.

"Ms Kedgley claims that United Future's planned amendments are somehow anti-family. This is astonishing, coming from a party that would happily see more of our kids smoking mind-altering drugs; a party that promotes unemployment among New Zealand families through its opposition to New Zealand's economic lifeblood of trade; and a party that opposes new scientific developments wherever they occur."

Mr Dunne said his amendments were based on providing a commonsense choice for New Zealanders when they wish to go out to bars and restaurants, as well as a commonsense choice for the owners of those establishments to remain in business.

© Scoop Media