Media statement
For immediate release
Thursday 20 September 2007

Dunne cool on climate change plans

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has given cool support to the Government’s emissions trading regime announced today.

“After months of delay it is good to see an announcement finally being made,” he said, “however, there must be real doubts as to its sustainability, given both the secretive way in which the policy has been developed without too much consultation with business and other political parties, and its complexity.”

Mr Dunne says UnitedFuture has always been supportive in principle of an emissions trading scheme as an alternative to the blunt carbon tax the government originally favoured, but acknowledges that the “devil lies in the detail.”

“Until the legislation is introduced, we will not know for sure the absolute shape of the policy, and we will make a call on it at that time,” he says.

“In the meantime, we are extremely concerned about the potential negative financial impact on households and families through increased energy and fuel bills.

“We are wary of the proposed compensation mechanism, and strongly warn the government against seeing this as a mechanism for postponing long overdue tax cuts once again,” he says.

Mr Dunne says the complexity of the regime makes it imperative the government prepare a thorough public information campaign, possibly through its Energy Conservation Authority.

“Most people could not care less about jargon like carbon footprints, sinks, and emission trading units and markets, and will be much more interested in what it means for them in their daily lives.

“The government needs to spell this out in words of one syllable in a way that households can follow clearly.

“People need information about which power companies, for example, have the best environmental records, or which household appliances are the most energy efficient, or what are the best transport options for them and their families.

“If the government is going to get the public on side with its carbon emissions trading strategy, it will need to come out of the clouds now and start to talk directly with families and households about how these policies will affect them and what they can do about it.

“Otherwise, today’s announcements will be a big yawn, and people will take out their frustration at the prospect of increased power and petrol prices when they go to the polls next year,” Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

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