United Future Media Statement
For immediate release
29 March 2006

Copeland: United Future support for Fitzsimons Member's bill

United Future has supported Jeanette Fitzsimons' Resource Management (Climate Protection) Amendment Bill through to the Select Committee stage.

"Climate change is an important issue but I fear that this could limit coastal permits. New Zealanders are known for their ingenuity and I am concerned that this bill could restrict this 'Kiwi ingenuity'. These are issues, however, that are best investigated by a select committee and I am therefore pleased to extend United Future's support to the bill through this first reading."

"Select committee consideration is an essential part of New Zealand's legislative process and provides for thorough investigation of bills. United Future believes that the investigative process provides a way to reach conclusions based on both expert advice and public opinion."

Fitzsimons' bill seeks to repeal sections of the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Act. According to Fitzsimons, this Act prevented local and regional government from taking into account the effect of carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases on climate change when considering air discharge consents, coastal permits and rules in regional plans.

ENDS

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