Tuesday February 8 2005

Hon Jim Anderton MP, Progressive Leader

Greens urged to take a more balanced view of life

Progressive leader Jim Anderton is urging the Greens to take a more balanced and holistic view of life instead of their traditional extremist approach on issues.

"In Question Time in Parliament today we heard another barrage against Solid Energy from an opposition party which says its main platform is the quality of the natural environment.

"Yet by unfairly trying to knock confidence in one of our most successful exporters, not to mention a significant employer, the most the Greens might hope to achieve with their strategy is to hurt New Zealand export sales and balance of payments, at the cost of Kiwi jobs.

"That means hurting our national economic performance and therefore the quality of our social services and environment," the Progressive leader said.

Jim Anderton said that nowhere in the history of the world has a Third World economy managed to develop a First World natural environment.

"However, societies that succeed in creating strong economies, like New Zealand under this coalition government, are able to match economic successes with improved social services and healthier natural environments for the enjoyment of all," the Progressive leader said.

New Zealand is a signatory of the international treaty on global climate change and Solid Energy is investing in new technologies to meet the challenge of making coal a clean energy source for the future.

ENDS

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