It’s time for ecological tax reform

Press Release from Russel Norman, Green Party Co-Leader

18th September, 2006.

The rising tide of evidence about climate change shows why the Government's Business Tax Review must consider ecological tax reform and stop ignoring the environment, says the Green Party, in releasing its submission to the Review.

Even unlikely supporters such as the UK Shadow Chancellor and the Economist magazine have become advocates for ecological tax reform.

“The Greens have long been supporters of fiscally-neutral ecological tax shifting from incomes and onto pollution and resource use, but so far the Business Tax Review has completely ignored it, ” says Green Co-Leader Russel Norman.

“We welcome the support of the Economist magazine, which has now come out saying that countries should adopt a carbon charge because it is the most efficient and stable way of putting a price on carbon emissions,” says Dr. Norman, also the Greens’ Economics Spokesperson.

“And we also welcome the comments of the UK Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, that we need to move tax onto environmentally damaging behaviour and off incomes.

“Even Murdoch's Sun newspaper in the UK has admitted that climate change is real and that ecological tax reform is worth considering.

“Our submission to the Business Tax Review is all about ecological tax shifting, because we need to reward behaviour that looks after the environment and penalise behaviour that destroys the environment.

“That why we support lower registration fees for cars that are fuel efficient and higher registration fees for cars that use more fuel; and that’s why our waste bill puts a levy on waste to landfill, a levy that can then be used to fund waste minimisation efforts.

“I wish that the New Zealand National Party would stop its climate change denial and constant complaining about the Waste Bill and follow the lead of the Conservatives in the UK in considering the role of ecological tax reform.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media