Parliament not to be treated as a rubber stamp, Greens warn

Tuesday’s proposals by Climate Change Minister David Parker on how permits will be allocated under New Zealand’s proposed emissions trading scheme have been criticised by Green Party Co- Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons for effectively bypassing Parliament, and leaving the key decisions in the hands of officials or Cabinet.

David Parker announced his proposals in a speech to the Buddle Findlay sustainability seminar series.

“What the Minister is saying is that the decisions about when each sector has to come in to the emissions trading scheme, and how the permits will be allocated, can be made after the legislation is passed,” Ms Fitzsimons says.


“That suggests the legislation will be just a shell, giving power to officials or Orders in Council to make the major decisions about who gets what permits, and how fast they have to take action.


“I can foresee a very frustrating select committee process where there can be no discussion on how different sectors or firms will be affected - because the decisions about when they will have to take responsibility for their emissions, and how many permits they will have to buy, will not be part of the Bill.


“It is difficult to see Parliament voting for a bill that gives officials or the Executive so much power without recourse to Parliament,” Ms Fitzsimons says.