According to Maori Party policy:
We aspire to work together to make the economy great but not at the expense of our environment. Climate change affects us all and the biggest emitters must take responsibility to change the way they do business. Any cost they pass on to consumers must encourage environmentally responsible choices. The principle must be that polluters pay.
They have so far completely failed to live up to this policy, supporting National’s systematic weakening of the ETS, even though they know the cost. The taxpayer and the environment pays, the polluters get the corporate welfare.
Perhaps the shame of it has become too much for them:
The Maori Party has withdrawn its support for a bill that changes the emissions trading scheme (ETS), cutting the Government’s majority to a single vote.
The Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill weakens legislation introduced in 2009 to make industry sectors pay for pollution under an ETS. …
The Maori Party voted for the bill on its first reading in August, and it passed by 63 votes to 57. It says that since then a flood of cheap carbon credits from overseas has distorted the local market and the ETS isn’t strong enough to shift the behaviour of the big polluters.
United Future leader Peter Dunne has confirmed he will continue to support the bill, which gives the Government 61 votes against 60 from all the opposition parties.
As usual Peter Dunne is personally responsible for propping up the worst of the Nats’ agenda. For the Maori Party – credit where it’s due for finally taking some action. A pity that it is too little too late.
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