ETS creates mess says Feds

Federated Farmers president, Don Nicolson said today the passing of the emissions trading bill creates a mess and is bad.

“With hundreds of amendments and last minute supplementary order papers, the vote to pass the ETS legislation last night was a huge mistake by this current parliament. The legislation is ill thought through, rushed, and has huge risks for the New Zealand economy and the nation.

“This has all been pushed though parliament for short term political gain rather than any sound economic or environmental reasons that will benefit New Zealand or the globe. Those that voted for the scheme care only about the next political opinion poll.

“This ETS Act isn’t like the nuclear free legislation – nice branding but costs nothing. The reality is it will cost New Zealand significant real money and is unlikely to achieve the global outcomes sought. For some politicians the passing of this bill is seen as a clever political public relations stunt. The reality is it is a mess that all New Zealanders will pay for.

"Agriculture, like the rest of New Zealand, will be affected from day one through higher input costs. If New Zealand wants to try and remain a first world country, rather than a third world country, the simple fact is it needs agriculture to prosper and grow. This flawed bill simply isn’t going to help the nation’s prospects.

“The Federation has lobbied all political parties intensely to oppose the bill. It is extremely disappointing it has passed. However Federated Farmers will remain steadfast in its determination to try and get some common sense and practical solutions to the mess that this legislation now creates," Mr Nicolson concluded.