In reply to Jocelyn MacIntyre's letter, the Sun 18 June, the Income Tax reduction the Government is 'giving” us later this year is a big con. I agree that the increase in GST and the additional costs of the Emissions Trading Scheme will in no way be fully compensated for by the upcoming Income Tax reduction. As she states most of us will be far worse off financially.
This Government is a laughing stock overseas for introducing the ETS in such a big way when we are one of the smallest of the world's polluters.
I would like to correct Jocelyn by saying that in recent statements by Government and by Government Ministers at public meetings the monies collected from the ETS are not going overseas. They will be used within New Zealand to plant and replant vast areas in trees, and the balance will go to our major industrial polluters to introduce methods to reduce the bulk of their pollution. Whether you believe these statements from Government is another matter.
Government and it's Ministers have also stated that if by 2012 (not 2014) the ETS is seen to be not working and none of the world's major polluting countries have introduced it then the scheme in NZ will be dropped. Again whether you believe this statement is up to you. Time will tell.
However if the ETS is dropped in 2012 but the additional costs forced on the country by the introduction of the ETS eg petrol, diesel, electricity (these costs will be passed on to every other commodity) are not then cancelled, the Government and it's Ministers at that time will be in very, very deep brown trouble up to their collective necks.
Roger Bailey, Papamoa Beach.