Greens continue to test Government patience

By FRANCESCA MOLD

The Government slapped down attempts by the Green party to attack its policies in Parliament yesterday, sending a firm warning that election-year grandstanding at the Coalition's expense will not be tolerated.

The Greens infuriated Prime Minister Helen Clark last week when they cranked up opposition to new laws lifting a ban on the release of genetically modified organisms in October next year.

The small party increased the heat on the issue again in Parliament yesterday but was quickly shot down by Finance Minister Michael Cullen.

Green co-leader Rod Donald suggested that clearly stating that genetic engineering would not be allowed outside the laboratory would lead to lower compliance costs for businesses than the present regulatory regime and a short-term moratorium.

"I'm sure if we could uninvent printing, reading and the wheel we could reduce compliance costs even further," bit back Dr Cullen.

Just two questions later, Green co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons got a "get real" warning from Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff on her call for the outlawing of plutonium and nuclear waste shipments through New Zealand's 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

Mr Goff said New Zealand had already excluded shipments from the zone by obtaining an assurance from countries transporting the waste.

Yesterday's sniping shows that the Government's tolerance for the Greens' hardline stance on genetic modification and other issues is rapidly waning.

The Greens have warned the Government that the GM issue is a bottom-line one and they will not be budged on it.

Ms Fitzsimons believes Labour will give in to the Greens' demands.

But the Government is annoyed at the attempt to hold it to ransom and has pointed out to voters that if Labour were re-elected and stuck to its plans to lift the moratorium in October next year, the Greens could force another election.

Helen Clark accused the party of playing Russian roulette with the electoral system and suggested their stand increased the odds of an early election this year - another reason to put the Greens offside with voters.

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