Climate Change Bill Sent To Select Committee

Climate Change Bill Sent To Select Committee

A bill amending the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) passed its first reading and was sent to select committee though the Opposition objected to both the bill and a truncated select committee process.

Climate Change Minister Tim Groser explained the changes in the Climate Change Response (Emissions Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill implements previously announced decisions of the Government.

These mainly flowed from recommendations of a report by the Experts Review Panel, though not all they recommended was being implemented.

Labour MP Moana Mackey said the ETS was designed to be an all sectors all gasses scheme, but the Government had watered it down so much that it was becoming meaningless.

Mackey said the Government had introduced too many subsidies and exclusions which were blunting sectors from the market signals an ETS was intended to create.

The bill was sent to select committee by 63 to 57 with National, Maori Party, ACT and United Future in favour.

Opposition MPs also objected to a truncated select committee process with a report back on October 17, but Parliament agreed to it by the same vote.

MPs began the third reading of the Regulatory Reform Bill split into 13 bills.

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