17 November 2009
Media Statement

Let’s trust Nick Smith not Treasury. Yeah right!

John Key’s defence of his embattled Minister Nick Smith and the Government's subsequent attack on Treasury’s findings that National’s ETS will create a $110 billion debt for taxpayers is a continuation of the Government’s shambolic ETS process to date, Labour’s Climate Change spokesperson Charles Chauvel said today.

“Let’s be clear. Treasury has said the changes the Government is proposing will cost $110 billion, over $50 billion dollars more than Nick Smith originally stated,” Charles Chauvel said.

“Nick Smith and John Key cannot dismiss Treasury’s figures as nonsense and continue as it nothing has happened.

“If we can’t believe Treasury on economic modelling, who can we believe?

“National is trying to run a diversion to create cover for the fact that its ETS changes will cost taxpayers many billions of dollars and emissions will still rise.

“Nick Smith has no credibility.

“The sad fact though is that it will be hardworking Kiwi families that will be left carrying the can and writing out cheques for $44 per week for the next 40 years as the price of Nick Smith’s incompetence.”

ENDS

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