Kyoto Name-Calling Unacceptable

The legitimate concerns of business about Kyoto implementation are not 'deranged' says Business NZ Chief Executive Simon Carlaw.

He was referring to a comment made by Hon Pete Hodgson this morning to the select committee considering the National Interest Analysis on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol.

"The Government has decided to ratify Kyoto before informing New Zealanders how it proposes to do so and at what cost over time. This is not 'misinformation,' as Mr Hodgson put it, but fact.

"Name-calling of this nature by senior members of the Government was last heard in the context of the then Employment Relations Bill. Subsequently the Government was obliged to fix problems it initially chose not to recognise.

"Much has been made of partnerships with business. Name-calling in place of objective and robust debate does not sit well with this principle. The Prime Minister might wish to ensure that widespread business concern at Kyoto gets a better hearing than seems likely at this point."

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