We need an ETS that is fair, bold and comprehensive. 

 

In September 2009, the National Government walked away from negotiations with Labour on a revised Emissions Trading Scheme. For several weeks, Labour had been meeting with National on achieving an equitable and long lasting arrangement on how the ETS could be recasting accordance with National's stated wishes. Labour has consistently been in support of fair, bold and comprehensive climate change policy. When the Government was elected in late 2008, they launched a special select committee to review the ETS. Labour submitted a minority view as its contribution to the select committee report. In a speech earlier in the year, I made reference to Labour’s position on any reforms to the ETS as a consequence of this review. You can read a copy of the text here.

As I point out, the ETS review was a 9 month waste of time and taxpayers' money. It gave the NZ public no clear idea of what changes the Government wants to make. National's announcement only convinces me that the Government was preparing to play all other parties off each other and once again turn Climate Change into a political football.

New Zealand deserved better. You deserved better.

This deal creates a massive tilting of the scheme in favour of polluters at the cost of households. New Zealand, like every other country, has to pay its way on carbon emissions. It’s either the polluter or the taxpayer who the bears the cost – under this deal, every Kiwi family will be worse off by hundreds of dollars each year in subsidies for polluters. This deal means New Zealand as a country will pay much more over the long run. Either taxes will rise or essential services will be cut. I've blogged on some of the detail here.

Labour was very careful to make it clear to the public just what it would be prepared to look at in regards to reform, in the hopes that a lasting and effective ETS could be retained. But it looks like the deal between National and Maori will be done soon, if it has not been done already. Shame on them for helping the wealthiest people in the country at the expense of less well-off families.

Furthermore, we need a fair, bold and comprehensive response, to show the world that we mean what we say. New Zealand can only contribute to a global solution by making a strong statement at home and in the region. This deal washes away our mana at the global level.

Since the agreement, the Revised ETS bill has passed it's first reading, under urgency (and without any prior review - literally tabled within minutes of the first reading debate starting). You can watch my speech, which sums up my response to the bill: