Select Committtee fails to reach consensus on ETS, Government does

The finance and expenditure committee have reported back on the 16th of November, failing to reach a consensus on the Climate Change Response (Moderated Emissions Trading) Amendment Bill. The Select Committee report outlines five minority views on the Bill, after less than two months of discussion.

The report itself shows the priority the current government is putting on highly complex and potentially wide reaching climate change policy. With a five paragraph minority view from the National party in comparison to the 14 page view of the Labour party.

Criticism was raised by the Green party towards the National Government, that "having failed at the select committee stage, it is clear that the Government is intending to introduce during the committee of the whole House stage a number of significant amendments, which the select committee has not seen or discussed. This is a deeply flawed, undemocratic way of developing such important legislation and will result in serious errors."

The criticism seems to be exactly on point, with the ODT reporting today that "a deal with the Maori Party appears to have secured support for the Government to pass its troubled emissions trading scheme legislation."

The National Government approach towards climate change policy is concerning for New Zealanders because it is the second time the democratic process has been circumvented to minimise participation in order to push through legislation on the issue.