Farmers, ACT protest emissions trading scheme

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Tue, 22 Jun 2010 3:10p.m.

Rodney Hide surveys the crowd

Rodney Hide surveys the crowd

The Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) comes widely into force late next week, but farmers from around the country are still hitting the streets in protest.

About 100 people marched from central Wellington to Parliament today as part of an ETS protest organised by Federated Farmers and the ACT Party - the only political party totally opposed to the scheme.

Federated Farmers president Don Nicholson said the protesting group was calling for the Government to drop the scheme, which would place extra costs on consumers, mainly in the form of rises in the price of power and fuel, from July 1 due to the cost it places on greenhouse gas emissions.

Mr Nicholson said the ETS was the "start of a winter of discontent" which would initially cost sheep and beef farmers an average of $1475 extra a year and dairy farmers an average of $3300 extra a year.

Others speaking outside Parliament directed their outrage at the National Party for proceeding with a scheme when New Zealand's main trading partners had not committed to their own schemes.

ACT leader Rodney Hide was already looking ahead to the 2011 election, saying with a few more members his party was likely to be able to derail progression of the ETS. Give party votes to ACT at the election and "we'll do the business for you", he said.

NZPA
 
Watch extended footage from the protest.
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Comments

01 Jul 2010 11:35p.m.

Steve wrote:

@Lightseed - the 27 countries in Europe (which is the 27 countries Smiths quotes) only tax large electricity generators (not on oil like in NZ) and a very small percentage. The way the Germans are waking up to the scam this could be gone soon. If Labor loose the next election in Australia their current ETS related expenditure will be no more. USA will never pass an ETS like scheme. No one else is being as silly as we are. It is rubbish to say as Smith does that it is for trade reasons. How many in NZ do not buy Japanese cars because of Japanese whaling? Anyone?

23 Jun 2010 12:14p.m.

Hans wrote:

Let's not forget the scheme is doubling next year. Why should we pay for ETS when the government don't seem interested in any alternative solutions? Why are we going to pay 800 companies a subsidy? The ETS increases the cost of living, including food prices. This tax is going to hamper our economy even further, is is really the best time to be putting this forward? Our trading partners don't have the burdened by ETS tax this will put us in at an unfair disadvantage. Some scientists are speaking against carbon emissions and climate change and even saying it can beneficial. I would rather set an automatic payment in a "plant a tree account" I have followed this story and All I have read is $+$=$$$$$.

22 Jun 2010 11:20p.m.

Lightseed wrote:

Steven really? you might want to check the world, because there are quite a number of countries who are further down this track than we are. Even Australia although they have delayed the laws have already passed the spending that will be used for a number of projects from which is being paid for by taxes. I guess helen is trying to direct a comment at me, but it just looks like another childish attack when she cannot even get a username correct. A number of businesses if you actually followed the story have said that they will not pass on the additional costs which are very minimal to the consumers, which will also mean other companies will have to compete with those lower prices from those who do not pass on the raise in GST and the ETS increases. Try be an adult Helen when you reply to comments.

22 Jun 2010 09:40p.m.

v wrote:

UN proposes ALL new houses will be Zero energy usage by 2020 No choice, mandated by LAW. Welcome the New World Order

22 Jun 2010 07:27p.m.

V wrote:

ETS a scam made legal. The criminals are running the place.

22 Jun 2010 06:07p.m.

Helen wrote:

@Mr Dark & Seedy Consumers will not be protected by the unsustainable and high costs of the ETS scheme.

22 Jun 2010 05:38p.m.

Steve wrote:

Is National wanting to give ACT many voters at the next election? I thought Key stated he wanted to remove red tape and tax. NZ is the only country in the world going down this silly path. Everyone else has halted or undoing anything to do with ETS like schemes.

22 Jun 2010 03:42p.m.

Lightseed wrote:

plant some trees and profit from it like most farmers will do, and then be thankfully that National halved what you would be paying under the act that was passed by labour and the greens.