Nick Smith: MMP to blame for ETS deal

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Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:45p.m.

Nick Smith

Nick Smith

By Rebecca Wright
 
Greenhouse gases may not have been released into the atmosphere tonight, but temperatures were rising at a public meeting hosted by Minister for Climate Change Nick Smith.

Blaming MMP, Dr Smith admitted that his party did a deal with the Maori Party it would never have otherwise done to get the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation through Parliament.

National has given five iwi the use of Crown land for profit in return for Maori Party support for the bill. Tonight Dr Smith said it would not have happened if it wasn't for MMP.

At a public meeting in the normally blue suburb of St Heliers tonight it was standing room only, as Dr Smith fielded questions on his portfolios, which in addition to climate change includes ACC.

It didn't take long for things to get heated. Dr Smith came in for criticism from National Party supporters for his party's deal with the Maori Party.

Dr Smith admitted National did something they would never have usually done, but said that's the price of MMP.

He went on to liken New Zealand's commitment to reducing emissions to our contribution to the Allied forces in fighting Nazi Germany.

Of the several hundred people who turned out, the majority were motorcyclists angry at proposed increases in ACC levies.

Sexual abuse victims also had Dr Smith in their sights over ACC's new rules for sex attack victims, which they say make it difficult for survivors to get funding for counselling.

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Comments

02 Dec 2009 11:25p.m.

Geoff wrote:

It's complete rubbish to blame MMP for the deal with the Maori Party. The Maori party have no MMP-style list seats. It has electorate seats that would exist without MMP. The reason for the deal was simply that no-one else would go anywhere near National's dodgy changes to the ETS.

02 Dec 2009 07:24p.m.

Sceptic wrote:

"Since the sceptics' claims have been debunked roundly, what's the point in covering it more?"

The sceptics are not the one's being debunked. Climate change is a fraud. Guess there's more sheep with the wool over their eyes in this country than we thought.

01 Dec 2009 08:30p.m.

Oi wrote:

Jim - TV3 covered it last night. Since the sceptics' claims have been debunked roundly, what's the point in covering it more?

01 Dec 2009 07:44p.m.

Jim wrote:

Considering Climategate news broke 10 days - Nick Smith ignores it, TV3 ignores it ..... but it won't go away. The ETS scam will implode.

01 Dec 2009 12:40p.m.

Warren Matthews wrote:

The ETS scam should not have been passed in the first place. The Maori Party has obviously looked after its own making sure they don't get ripped off under this scam.


I am sure Nationals Handlers are going to get rich... but what about the rest of us footing the bill?

01 Dec 2009 09:50a.m.

Peter Chatteris wrote:

Smith lied, fooled around and told us at the meeting "I don't care" when it came to the submissions on ACC... he was arrogant and in the 25 years of political experience I have had... nearly all Blue.. and in NZ always National is the single most incompetent MP I have ever seen heard or spoken to.. he is a burden to the Nats and a burden to NZ.. he will go... Nick Smith WILL be looking for a new job sooner rather than later. His own figures quoted back to him were filled with excuses and at one point I was told by the chairman of the night, a local branch chairman in St Heliers that I could not ask a question about climate change vs the positive aspects of bikes on the environment. As an ex branch committee member of the Nats... tossed out by the very same branch I was also abused... the behaviour of the official Nats was appalling with the exception of Allan Peachey.

01 Dec 2009 06:08a.m.

Lorraine wrote:

So he blames MMP for the situation having to use the Maori party. So what would they be getting up to behind our backs if they didnt have MMP to answer to?

01 Dec 2009 05:39a.m.

Mathew wrote:

I think its absolutely insulting and disgusting to try and justify something by likening it to Nazi Germany. Its abhorrent and cheap to use the "no one will disagree with what I say, because otherwise we can accuse them of being a Nazi" line of argument. I would have thought that someone of this profile and public experience could have constructed their arguments in a less insulting and pathetic way.

01 Dec 2009 12:16a.m.

simon wrote:

So Nick Smith admits that the government deliberately misled the public. They claimed they did a deal to avert legal action by iwi, to stop a potential court case. Now we know (from the horse's mouth) that was not the real reason.

Smith should resign.

30 Nov 2009 11:40p.m.

Hmmm wrote:

I don't like either party, but this is what MMP is supposed to do - temper the extremes, provide representation for the oft-maligned. Unfortunately in this case it's two of the worst parties in Parliament doing the deal, and giving it a bad look.