Dunne seeks household compo for ETS costs
The Government’s decision to delay the introduction of transport into the emissions trading regime is a welcome but essentially kneejerk reaction, according to UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne.
“Delaying the introduction of transport into the regime will spare motorists additional petrol costs in the interim, but it really does nothing to address the overall likely cost impact on New Zealand households of climate change policies.
“New Zealand families face increased electricity and fuel costs as a result of the moves to emission trading, and rising food bills as a result of the moves to biofuels, and the impact of rising petrol prices has only been delayed.
“What we really need from the government is a clear estimate of the likely impact overall on household budgets of these moves and the steps it will take to ensure families are properly compensated for the cost increases,” Mr Dunne says.
He says that depending on the price per tonne of carbon, New Zealand households could be up to $20 to $25 a week worse off once the emissions trading regime is introduced.
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