MEDIA STATEMENT

25 March 2009 Media Statement

Minister refuses to rule out further delays to ETS

Environment Minister Nick Smith’s refusal in Parliament this afternoon to rule out further delays in the implementation of New Zealand’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a cause for considerable alarm,” Labour’s Climate Change Issues spokesperson Charles Chauvel said today.

“I asked Nick Smith whether the implementation of the ETS would be further delayed if the Australian Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is not legislated for according to the Australian Government’s anticipated timetable.” Charles Chauvel said

“He replied that the Australian Government appeared confident that it would legislate for its scheme in a timely way, but that if it did not, there would be no harm in taking further time to get the details of our ETS right.

“Already, the National Party’s climate change policies have created uncertainty, costing jobs and new investment in the forestry sector.

“They have damaged our international reputation and made us look like we are doing nothing in this critical area.

“Labour supports a reasonable degree of harmonisation with Australia, but it cannot be allowed to become an excuse for further delays in the implementation of our climate change obligations,” Charles Chauvel said.

ENDS

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