Fancy the Kiwis announcing this exactly as Australia takes a huge step in the opposite direction. Our Prime Minister Julia Gillard will be sending her Kiwi counterpart a thank you John message – I am sure.
[The Government has indefinitely postponed key stages of the emissions trading scheme, saying the economic environment means consumers and businesses simply can’t afford it.
The announcement comes as Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s political future hangs in the balance due to the introduction of a carbon tax there this week.
But Prime Minister John Key said his Government’s decision had not been influenced by the political fallout in Australia. Rather, it was acting on concerns the economy would suffer if New Zealand did more than other countries to reduce carbon emissions.
“We’re not prepared to sacrifice jobs in a weak international environment when other countries are moving very slowly,” he said.]
Very good news over on this side of the ditch. I see by your link to the poll, at the moment 53% have voted “totally the right decision”. NZ initially jumped the gun on the issue and especially regarding the biological agricultural emissions which no other country had even put a price on, as the Federation of Farmers pointed out. Now farmers will not have to buy carbon credits until at least 2015. By the time that rolls around perhaps so will another “indefinite delay”. Yes, precisely as you say –
“An Outbreak of Commonsense in New Zealand”.
It was always nuts for NZ to be “leading the world” on carbon dioxide restriction – no wonder Key has rowed back on it.
Meanwhile, I am enjoying Australian ministers trying to justify the carbon dioxide tax, and being caught by the same type of questioning that has been used to discredit sceptics all these years.
Interviewer to sceptic: Do you admit the greenhouse effect causes warming? Sceptic: Yes, but probably very little. Response: Ah, but you admit it, don’t you?
Interviewer to Gillard ministers: Do you admit the carbon tax will put up prices? Minister: Yes, but probably very little. Response: Ah, but you admit it, don’t you?