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ACT leader suggests ETS scheme threatens supply and confidence deal with National
Rodney Hide suggests ETS may threaten coalition govt
ACT leader Rodney Hide suggested in parliament today that ACT could question its current Supply and Confidence coalition agreement with the ruling National Party if National pushes ahead with implementing the Emissions Trading Scheme on July 1. (Updated with Hide saying a withdrawal is not planned)
Here is the full Hansard record of the exchange in parliament between Hide and Prime Minister John Key. Judge for yourself, but Hide seems to be a bit cute with the question line. He seems to be applying some pressure without quite pulling the trigger. Hide later said ACT had no intention of leaving the agreement, but this exchange suggests tensions between ACT and the government over the ETS.
Hon RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) to the Prime Minister: Has he received any reports regarding the comment attributed by the New Zealand Herald to National MP Shane Ardern that “Mr Hide could stop the ETS if he wished by reconsidering his party’s confidence and supply agreement with National”; and what is his view of the ETS and the confidence and supply arrangement?
Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) : I am aware of the comments. My view of the emissions trading scheme is that strikes a good balance between our economic opportunities and our environmental responsibilities. My view of the confidence and supply arrangement with the ACT Party is that it forms the basis of a very positive and healthy relationship. I thank the ACT Party for its contribution in our stable and balanced Government, and, in particular, I thank the Minister for the great work he has done in reforming Auckland.
Hon Rodney Hide: Does he share ACT’s concern that the entire net gain from tax cuts for the 550,000 households earning between $40,000 and $85,000, shown to be 0.4 percent of their income on page 9, in the Minister’s Executive Summary, in the Budget, is eaten up by the 0.4 percent extra cost of the emissions trading scheme, as shown on page 65, in the Economic and Fiscal Update—that is, that what Bill English has given back, Nick Smith has taken away for over a million middle-income New Zealanders?
Hon JOHN KEY: No, because the estimates I have are that the emissions trading scheme will cost the average household around $3 a week, and the tax cut for someone on $50,000, even if they consume the lot, net of GST, is about $14 to $15 a week.
Hon Rodney Hide: Is the Prime Minister, therefore, saying that the figures contained on page 9 in the Minister’s Executive Summary and on page 65 in the Economic and Fiscal Update, showing, respectively, the extra income for middle-income households earning between $40,000 and $85,000 and the extra costs of the emissions trading scheme are wrong?
Related Topics
Hon JOHN KEY: No; but the answer is that one is a measure of the CPI, and one is a measure of their general income
31 Comments
Are we sure this wasn't
Are we sure this wasn't discussed and scripted between them beforehand?
Is the govt wanting to find a way out?
Alan.
Let's hope so
Let's hope so Alan.
Regardless whether one believes in AGW or not, the reality is that this stupid ETS will not make one blind bit of difference to climate change.
It seems that the unwashed do not understand this though.... Unfortunately the media isn't going to explain it either, as it doesn't fit their view of the climate.
My feeling as well.Is of
My feeling as well.Is of course a way to have a bob each way.And of course keeps the "right" in N/act guessing what the JK government are really up to.
dont care...so long as it
dont care...so long as it gets us away from the stupid ets
Does Emissions Trading Scheme
Does Emissions Trading Scheme allow private entities to trade or is it like tax, which just goes to the government? I don't mind if it's like tax going to the government.
I cannot believe genuine Nat
I cannot believe genuine Nat supporters are going to let slimy NIck put this one on us! This is nothing more than a tax on breathing!
What is a genuine Nat
What is a genuine Nat supporter? They lost me with lack of philosophy 30 years ago.Labour did what they would have ,if only it wouldn`t lose an election, and they`ve been struggling to speak for my middle NZ since,don`t you think?
Nick Smith - minister of
Nick Smith - minister of consumer rip offs !!!
ACC - huge levy increase
ETS - Huge increases in costs - not only power and fuel, but everything else as well
Defamation payout for timber
Canterbury water
Get rid of him from parliament
ACT are already revolting,or
ACT are already revolting,or in the case of rodney hide and roger douglas downright reptilian!
I for one, welcome our
I for one, welcome our reptilian overlords
And you are just one
And you are just one
Nobody voted for this ETS. In
Nobody voted for this ETS. In fact nobody knows anything about it. This is a total scam.
So lets get this straight. Consumer ends up paying money, that goes to the government (a tax), and this somehow saves the planet or reduces emissions? You have to be kidding right? How does the government spend that money? I know, they waste it.
The consumer is held hostage. If you drive a car, you have to buy petrol. If you live in a house, you have to buy power.
Here is a solution. Scrap the ETS. Then the government could provide a huge subsidy for NZ businesses that provide power saving options such as Heat Pump water heaters that can save up to 70% of your average hot water heating bill. Thereby reducing the carbon footprint. The government could exclude GST on Hybrid cars (which are still too expensive). I'm sure there are other ideas that could be adopted but the ETS must be stopped.
ETS is a fonterra tax,if we
ETS is a fonterra tax,if we didnt have it to inoculate us against an embargo on NZ imports to europe.
Is this going to modify my
Is this going to modify my behaviour ? No
Is it going to get under my skin that I am paying more tax so we can "lead the world" ? Yep.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/3699734/John-Key-Man-i...
Don Nicolson, president of Federated Farmers: Do you categorically know if our assumed "clean-green" and "sustainable" brand is a primary reason why consumers in the growing markets of Asia, the Middle East and Africa buy New Zealand food products and if not, why not?
John Key's reply, As I said in a speech to Federated Farmers last November, we ignore environmental concerns of our overseas customers at our peril. I said then that environmentally aware consumers across Britain and Europe were increasingly demanding higher environmental standards for the food they buy.
America's largest supermarket chain, Walmart, is introducing a Sustainability Index. It includes factors such as the impact on natural resources, energy and climate change in the manufacture of its products. I believe consumers in other markets like the ones you cite will increasingly become sensitive to environmental concerns. I do not believe we can differentiate between those types of markets.
As I said to the conference last year, regardless of your view about the environment or climate change, the opinions of your consumers will ultimately decide how well your products sell.
For those of short memory
For those of short memory span ( such as me ) , this was Helen Clark's initiative , not John Key's . Labour kow-towed to every daft scheme the U.N. came up with . The ETS is one of the " dead rats " National chose to swallow , to win the 2008 election . The voters were not offered a clear choice .
Recall also , that in 2005 Don Brash directly opposed Helen Clark's policies , and lost the election . NZ accepted Clark's ideas . ... . Following that , JK learnt not to alter the incumbent government's tajectory . Hence we have ETS / WFF / interest-free-student loans / a Family Commission / etc .
John Key held hands with
John Key held hands with Helen Gummy Bear."Which way is the wind blowing" he said.Why oh why do us humans so want to be loved that we forget who pays for our largesse.
To reiterate , the voters in
To reiterate , the voters in 2005 had a clear choice between left and right , and voted left . Are we surprised that in 2008 National became Labour-lite , desperate to win the election . 9 years in opposition drove them to abandoning their roots . Can't entirely blame them for pandering to the voters' wishes !
Listening to the politicians
Listening to the politicians justifying this , it now sounds like a very expensive trade promotion scheme to me.
There is something creepy
There is something creepy about the ETS isn't there?
No one understands it but people take sides anyway.
As regards "ETS is a fonterra tax,if we didnt have it to inoculate us against an embargo on NZ imports to europe" I think we will see a more rational and sensible Europe emerge in the years ahead. I would be more worried about all that good farmland they have being put to good use and their currency getting cheaper.
Couln't resist this "As I
Couln't resist this
"As I said to the conference last year, regardless of your view about the environment or climate change, the opinions of your consumers will ultimately decide how well your products sell".
Consumers are a fickle lot and when they are less affluent they tend to put aside their spoilt and foolish ways, drop their airs and graces and buy what they can afford.
the govt is STUPID! They come
the govt is STUPID!
They come on TV tonight berating the power companies (believe me I am not on their side either...rip off) for incresing their prices with regard to the emmission trading scheme. What in the hell did they think they were going to do??? Are they that thick?
No instead they "tell off" the power companies and gave them a "stern warning" against price gouging their customers like thats going to make the power companies change their minds. LOL.
No the Govt says this on TV to apportion blame squarely on the power companies rather than themselves for the stupid stupid act they put in place. You think this is the end of it? Ha. NZ prepare to become a lot poorer this year. This is just the start.
The ETS is nothing more than a revenue gathering exercise. It's a joke. So is our Govt for putting it in place. I am not voting for them ever again!
The power companies are
The power companies are running scared because of Brownlee and his fat-addled ideas. The SOEs are trying to avoid being fragmented and sold off to the ntas' mates for a song, so they can then be on-sold to, say, Chinese companies at a fat profit. The losers? Tax payers, and a few middle managers.
This government exists to do the bidding of agriculture and big business (in this country they are usually one-and-the-same thing), so any allegedly "anti-business" statements from the government can be disregarded and ignored as empty posturing. DonKey and Trougher Bill have their eyes set on lucrative BoD positions after they retire.
Key coming on TV threatening
Key coming on TV threatening the power company cartel was just a PR exercise all about "We are looking after the public" I nearly threw up watching the crap coming out of his and Big Jerrys mouths.All this straight after bringing in the greatest tax grab the country has ever had imposed on it via ETSCAM.
Well if you think about it,
Well if you think about it, getting out now for ACT could be a very sensible move. That then leaves Nat's to rely on the Maori Party for the remainder of their term.
It's a gift horse staring Rodney and Roger in the face - an ace in the hole that has the potential to relegate the Nat's to a minor party in the next election. Most of the National vote would swing ACT, or splinter into a number of other minor parties that would likely spring forth.
MMP at it's best, in my opinion. C'mon Rodney - do it - go on the attack - what NZ needs more than anything at present is an effective opposition.... and the ETS is WORTH falling on your sword for.
It's a con - New Zealanders at large will support you on that one.
Yeah, Rodney, JFDI, are you
Yeah, Rodney, JFDI, are you conviction or concensus?
http://www.interest.co.nz/comment/reply/49840/552378
<0.2%, c'mon! ... and Labour know they would be nowhere if they sought to retain it.
It is the way to go.
JFDI.
Wouldnt it be fun to watch if
Wouldnt it be fun to watch if ACT had the guts to leave National with only the Maori party to support them. Harawira and co would have Key and his puppet yes men trussed up and on the spit before lunch. There would be an early election!
Exactly Bobby - a snap
Exactly Bobby - a snap election is just what this country needs.
C'mon Rodney - save us out here - we're drowning AND we'll remember you for it!!!!!
:-)
Act has always been revolting
Act has always been revolting - long may they continue with this boorish behaviour - that way they will never have access to real power.
Act - the party of wannabe slave owners and traders
Some infos from other
Some infos from other countries:
http://www.bafu.admin.ch/emissionshandel/05538/index.html?lang=en
http://www.lcube.eu.com/pdf/athens/VSWG2swisslawsand%20measures.pdf
WK
Although most people do not
Although most people do not have a glue about ETS – to be against is important – you stupid people educate yourselves !
WK