ACT offers to soften stance over emissions trading

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ACT leader Rodney Hide has offered to soften the party's line on the emissions trading scheme to prevent a looming deal between National and the Maori Party.

Mr Hide said this morning that ACT would support National's plan to delay the entry of stationary energy - which includes power generation - and industry into the ETS from January 1, 2010 to July 1, 2010.

ACT agrees the sectors' entry to the ETS should be delayed, but wants it put back to January 1, 2011.

Mr Hide said ACT would make the concession if National put the brakes on a deal with the Maori Party, which will see five iwi get several million dollars in forestry concessions to make up for costs they would otherwise face under the ETS.

The deal is expected to be signed off today, allowing new legislation to go to Parliament under urgency tomorrow. National wants its softened ETS passed in time for a crucial climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.

But Mr Hide said the deal with the Maori Party - estimated by some to be worth up to $2 billion to the five iwi - should not be rushed.

"There is doubt even about the value of the National / Maori Party deal, with Iwi Leadership Group negotiator Willie Te Aho advising iwi leaders it would be worth $2 billion, Ngai Tahu leader Mark Solomon saying it would be worth $50 million every year to his tribe, but a Treasury analysis suggesting it is worth as little as a total of $25 million," Mr Hide said.

"Surely National and the Maori Party are not going to ram through legislation under urgency when there is a difference of opinion to the magnitude of 80 times over the value of the deal - especially when ACT is offering our votes to achieve a more considered process."

"ACT has always told National we would help it pass legislation which would meet its requirement to delay the entry of stationary energy and industrial processes into the ETS from the 1 January 2010 start date under Labour's scheme.

"The sticking point has been that ACT has wanted a delay until 1 January 2011 while National prefers 1 July 2010. We are prepared to concede on that point entirely to achieve a more considered approach to the legislation," Mr Hide said.

"There is absolutely no need to get the full legislation through this week before the Copenhagen conference. A delay would also allow Maori to fully consider the government's proposal and determine what it is actually worth."

Minister for Climate Change Issues Nick Smith said he had not seen Mr Hide's statement and had no comment to make.

- © Fairfax NZ News