ETS deficient law

Last night’s passing of the emissions trading bill in a near-empty House was a graphic example of poor law-making, says Business NZ.

Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says rushing through deficient legislation by a narrow majority just before an election is no way to conduct a democracy.

“There was a lot of consultation but hardly any listening. Substantive issues raised by the consultative process were ignored. Even submitters who favoured an emissions trading scheme and wanted to contribute sensible improvements were ignored.

“The legislation as it now stands is a risk to our economy and will take a lot of work to get right by the new government, whether Labour-led or National-led.

“The mystery is, what was the rush?”