Continued rumblings by ACT suggest the government will have a fight on its hands before the the transport, energy and industrial sectors are affected by the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on July 1.
In Parliament today, Act leader Rodney Hide
Continued rumblings by ACT suggest the government will have a fight on its hands before the the transport, energy and industrial sectors are affected by the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on July 1.
In Parliament today, Act leader Rodney Hide quoted National MP Shane Ardern’s comment that “Mr Hide could stop the ETS if he wished by reconsidering his party’s confidence and supply agreement with National” and asked Prime Minister John Key to comment on the ETS and Act's deal with National.
Mr Key thanked Act for "its contribution to our stable and balanced government" and made special reference to Mr Hide’s position as minister for local government, a perk made possible by Act’s election deal with National.
Undeterred, Mr Hide went on to allege that the extra cost of the ETS to households would cancel out tax cuts for those earning between $40,000 and $85,000 a year.
He concluded that “what [Finance Minister] Bill English has given back, [Climate Change Minister] Nick Smith has taken away for over a million middle-income New Zealanders”.
Mr Key disputed Mr Hide’s calculations, as tax cuts are calculated as a measure of general income while the ETS cost is measured as a consumer price index figure.
National ministers have dropped hints of a pro-ETS public information campaign leading up to the July 1 rollout.
