Press Release by ACT Deputy Leader Hon John Boscawen and Mana Candidate Colin du Plessis Tuesday, November 16 2010

ACT Deputy Leader and Climate Change Spokesman John Boscawen and ACT Mana candidate Colin du Plessis today questioned how the National Party could claim to care about the people of Mana when it is going to force them to pay tens of millions of dollars through the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

"When asked in Parliament today about the cost burden that the ETS would impose on the people of Mana, Climate Change Minister Dr Nick Smith would not rule out a figure of $20 million over the next three years," Mr Boscawen said.

"The ETS is exorbitantly expensive for absolutely no environmental benefit. More and more New Zealanders say they don't want it, no other nation in the world has one, yet the Government refuses to scrap it. It defies belief."

"What also defies belief is the way in which National Mana candidate Hekia Parata claims to work in the interests of Mana residents, but supports a scheme that taxes locals to subsidise foreign-owned plantation forests around New Zealand," Mr du Plessis said.

"The Government would do better to leave that $20 million where it belongs - with the people of Mana who, I'm sure, would put it to much better use.

"Mana has enough issues to deal with; unemployment is a big problem and many families are struggling to put food on the table following the recent increase in GST. And this is how National wants to help them - by taking away tens of millions of dollars."

"ACT always predicted that the ETS would hurt New Zealanders, and this shows that it is hurting those who can afford it the least. National has two options: scrap the ETS, or admit that it truly does not care about the people of Mana," Mr Boscawen and Mr du Plessis said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media