A deal with the Maori Party appears to have secured
support for the Government to pass its troubled emissions
trading scheme legislation.
It was reported last night that five iwi would be given
preferential treatment and allowed to grow trees on
Department of Conservation land.
In return, the Maori Party would put its five votes behind
the Government, enough for a majority to get the bill through
its final stages.
Climate Change Minister Nick Smith said it made sense to work
with iwi, but the concession has not been welcomed by other
parties.
ACT MP John Boscawen told NZPA his party strongly disagreed
with it because preferential treatment for Maori was unfair
on other foresters.
Labour leader Phil Goff said no details were known and it had
been made behind closed doors.
The bill, which puts in place a modified version of the
emissions trading scheme (ETS) passed by the previous
government, ran into trouble with the select committee which
considered it.
In a report released yesterday the cross-party committee said
it could not agree on the future of the bill and made no
recommendation to Parliament.
With Labour, the Greens and ACT opposing it, the Government
had to rely on the Maori Party which has been asking for
concessions including protection for iwi foresters and a
Treaty of Waitangi clause put into the bill.
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