Category: New Zealand Legislature

Source: Green Party

Today the ACT-National Coalition Agreement pet project’s findings on “no additional warming” were released.

“Whether it’s climate action or child poverty, Christopher Luxon committed at the election, then quietly tried to change the targets and reduce action while in Government,” says Green Party Co-Leader and spokesperson on Climate Change, Chlöe Swarbrick. 

“There’s a reason climate scientists balked when the Government announced it would review agricultural emissions: it was an obvious smokescreen to lower climate ambition, as the report and Ministerial comments released today make abundantly clear. 

“There’s a reason the Government chose not to give this job to the independent, expert Climate Change Commission, but instead set up their own Ministerial pet project, who were conveniently not allowed to consider the impacts of so-called ‘no additional warming’ from agriculture in the context of all of our climate targets and strategy.

“The Climate Change Commission and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment have explained time and again that a ‘no additional warming’ approach would mean every other part of our society and economy will carry a far higher burden, or mean reducing our necessary contribution to the global fight for climate action.

“Christopher Luxon should be thoroughly embarrassed to have been hoodwinked by lobbyists who have tried and failed this grift in Australia. Then again, we’re talking about the same guy who decided to throw our constitution to the wind to form a Government despite the Treaty Principles Bill not being anyone’s bottom line.

“Enough is enough. Climate Minister Simon Watts, will you please stand up?” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

Source: Green Party

The Government’s decision to axe all Humanities and Social Science research funding through the Marsden Fund is a massive step backwards.  

“Social sciences are critical in shining a light on some of the injustices and inequalities of society, things this Government would prefer to keep in the dark,” says the Green Party Spokesperson for Science and Research Scott Willis.

“We can and must invest in social science research, it forms a critical part of the ongoing critique and improvement of the society we all live in. It is essential for understanding and addressing the big challenges we face.

“If we are to counter the rise of misinformation and disinformation, and concerning trends such as the lurch towards authoritarianism and ‘alternative facts’, then we need to have a well-resourced social science and humanities sector.

“Today’s announcement compounds the pattern we’ve seen from very early on in this Coalition’s tenure of undermining the science community while ignoring the advice that comes from it. 

“This ideology-driven Government doesn’t value evidence-based policy where it doesn’t align with its focus on short-sighted economics. 

“The uncertainty this creates among a sector that is already chronically under-funded cannot be under-estimated.

“The Government has a key role in encouraging and supporting high-quality research for the benefit of New Zealand. 

“We can and must invest in research if we want to find answers to our most pressing problems,” says Scott Willis.

Source: Green Party

Today’s Government announcement to limit farm forestry conversions tinkers around the edges, instead of focusing on the real problem and stopping pollution at the source.

“Banking on pine trees to cut pollution is barely a band-aid on a gas leak,” says Green Party Climate Change spokesperson, Chlöe Swarbrick.

“The Government’s changes are an acknowledgement that there’s a problem in converting productive, food-growing land into biodiversity-squashing pine plantations, but they stop far short of fixing that problem.

“Polluters will still be allowed to wave away their obligations to reduce emissions by simply planting pines. Basically, you get to keep pouring gas on the climate crisis fire if you can afford to stockpile credits.

“The current rules in the ETS can’t be relied on to change the behaviour of our worst emitters. 

“The real solution is cutting emissions at the source, driving structural change, and ensuring sustainable land use practices.

“It’s beyond time to re-think forestry offsets and focus properly on gross emission reduction.

“Carbon sequestration must be effective and sustainable when it is deployed. That means permanent native forests, which support our unique biodiversity and ecosystems.

“A real emissions reduction strategy requires stopping pollution at the source and rehabilitating native biodiversity. We can’t wait to unveil our Alternative Emissions Reduction Plan this coming weekend, for a system that works for people and planet, instead of exhausting both,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

Source: Green Party

The Government’s new initiative to get people off the benefit won’t address the core drivers of poverty such as low incomes, lack of access to adequate housing and lack of employment opportunities. 

“This shallow, soundbite policy will see poverty continue to proliferate,” says the Green Party’s Social Development Spokesperson, Ricardo Menéndez March.

“People deserve to live in dignity, they deserve to be supported in times of need. We can afford to look after one another, all that is missing is the political will. 

“No number of check-ins by Work and Income staff will make up for the fact that benefit levels are below the poverty line, push people into debt, and create toxic stress for families. No number of check-ins will make up the fact that this is a Government that actively relied on increasing unemployment to lower inflation.

“If the Government was serious about lifting people out of poverty and enabling them to meet their potential, they would be guaranteeing liveable incomes to ensure people can participate in their communities with choice and dignity.

“Adding new responsibilities for Work and Income staff without fixing benefit levels and bolstering the MSD workforce is setting both people on the benefit and case managers to fail. 

“The soaring numbers of people on benefits are no accident; they are a direct consequence of this government’s slash-and-burn approach to job cuts and public service funding. 

“Sanctions, work-for-the-dole programs, and punitive measures simply do not work. All they achieve is perpetuating cycles of hardship, widening inequality, and creating barriers for people to get back on their feet.

“Successive governments have made bold promises to address poverty and unemployment, but the playbook has failed to change. 

“Instead of putting a new coat of paint on a broken system, the Greens will end poverty by introducing a guaranteed minimum income, paid for by a fairer tax system.

“It’s time for policies that build resilience and opportunity, not more blame and burden for those who need support the most,” says Ricardo Menéndez March.