KEY POINTS:
Controversial legislation establishing an emissions trading scheme (ETS) looks set for a further rewrite, despite a select committee reporting it back with over 1000 changes.
Parliament's finance and expenditure select committee, which has deliberated over the Climate Change (Emissions Trading and Renewable Preference) Bill for months, today reported back with over 1000 mainly technical amendments.
However, the raft of changes has failed to cement the support of either the Greens or New Zealand First - the two parties the Government is most likely to need to pass the bill.
Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons welcomed some of the amendments, but said more were needed for the party's support.
The Greens want transport and agriculture to be phased into the bill earlier than the proposed 2011 and 2013 start dates. It also wants a package of energy efficiency and financial support for poorer households to be paid for by "windfall profits" from the power industry.
Ms Fitzsimons said the party was still negotiating with the Government and she was hopeful agreement could be reached.
The Government can put further amendments to a vote during the bill's committee stages.
"Some of the things we were discussing just couldn't be worked through in time to meet the select committee deadline," Ms Fitzsimons said.
"The Government is working with us and we think that they are committed to trying to find a way that enough parties will support it to get it through."
NZ First MPs will discuss the revised bill at their weekly caucus meeting tomorrow.
A spokesman told NZPA the party still held concerns over the damage the bill could wreak on some industries and how the poor and elderly would be compensated for higher energy costs.
It was likely to seek further assurances on those issues.
Climate Change Minister David Parker said the Government was committed to working with minor parties to pass the bill.
But National Party environment spokesman Nick Smith today lashed the Government bill, saying the "reckless and rushed" select committee process had created a "botched piece of legislation".
In its current form the bill would not deliver the greatest possible reduction in emissions for the cost it was going to impose on industries and households.
National believed the bill should be delayed to allow its shape to be properly worked through and so New Zealand could see what scheme Australia came up with before finalising its own.
National's refusal to support the bill means the Government needs the backing of NZ First and either the Maori Party, or the Greens, or an even more complex arrangement of those two parties along with independent MP Taito Phillip Field.
The Maori Party has reserved judgment on the bill up until now.
ACT opposes the bill, while United Future has indicated its support is highly unlikely.
- NZPA
