KEY POINTS:
National has pulled the plug on a bipartisan meeting to discuss climate change policy, because it is upset that Finance Minister Michael Cullen released details of a similar private meeting about monetary policy.
National's Nick Smith had been invited to meet Climate Change Minister David Parker last night.
But the meeting was canned by National after Dr Cullen in recent days revealed details of a private meeting he held with National leader John Key and deputy leader Bill English last year.
At that gathering Dr Cullen, Trevor Mallard, Mr Key and Mr English discussed monetary policy tools with Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard and Treasury boss John Whitehead.
Talk of a levy on home mortgages arose, and Dr Cullen claims that all of those present agreed to investigate the idea further.
The Finance Minister was then incensed when National attacked him for saying in an interview last Friday that he wanted closer investigation of a levy.
Dr Cullen took the unusual step of first revealing that the private monetary policy meeting had taken place, then told reporters details of what was said by National's leader and deputy leader behind closed doors.
Mr English yesterday warned Dr Cullen during a select committee appearance that it would be unhelpful if National suddenly went public with details of what Dr Bollard had said privately.
National said last night that it was keen to have dialogue on developing a durable policy in the climate change area.
But first it wanted "stronger assurances" about the ground rules around the meeting.
"The problem Dr Cullen's action poses for National is that it indicates the Government will use any cross-party meetings for its own political purposes," Dr Smith said.
"It is not a basis on which trust can be built to develop long-term policy on an issue as important as climate change."
