Dunne: ETS compo ‘a sick joke’
2 September 2008

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne today derided the Government’s proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS) and the proposed compensation package for New Zealand households as a sick joke that will irreparably damage the New Zealand economy.

“Now that the Government has finally – and reluctantly – admitted that Kiwi households will get a one-off payment of $112.50 in 2010 – that’s $2.15 a week – to meet the costs of the ETS, the full scale of this economic disaster is becoming clearer,” he said.

“The ETS will seriously harm New Zealand’s export and productive sectors, yet even its most fanatical supporters concede it will reduce New Zealand’s carbon emissions by a derisory 2%.

“The effect of this ill-conceived and badly-designed scheme on the ordinary household will be devastating.

“In return for soaring food, fuel and transport costs, the average Kiwi householder will be able to get to the supermarket (probably on foot) where their extra $2.15 a week will be able to buy

• just over a block of butter or;

• slightly more than one loaf of bread or;

• just over a half a packet of Weetbix or;

• one lamb chop or;

• just less than a litre of milk or;

• seven eggs.

“And if all the pressure drives you to drink, you’ll be able to afford not quite two cans of beer!”

“UnitedFuture has consistently opposed this ETS because no real effort has been made to work out a realistic compensation scheme for ordinary households – and the figures released today are simply lamentable.

“This is just an insult to hardworking New Zealand families, who will have no option but to keep paying the bills, and struggling to get by while the Government preens itself on what a good job it has done.

“What on earth is the point of our trade negotiators looking smug at overseas conferences because we have a do-nothing ETS, while ordinary Kiwis at home are battling to hold onto their jobs and pay their food, power and transport bills – because of the same ETS?” asked Mr Dunne.