Fitzsimons ambushes Key over climate change

Jeanette Fitzsimons confronted John Key over National's plans to exclude farmers from any ETS. Photo / Richard Robinson

Greens co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons ambushed National leader John Key during a walkabout on the Kapiti Coast today and confronted him over climate change policy.

As Mr Key strode through a local shopping mall Ms Fitzsimons confronted him and said she was angry his MPs in the Hawke's Bay had been telling farmers that National would be pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol and that farmers would not be part of any emissions trading scheme (ETS) under a National government.

Mr Key told her National's policy was clearly to stay in Kyoto.

He said while National would look at revamping the ETS it would not be scrapped.

Mr Key did concede that National would be looking at how it affected farmers.

After the brief, polite meeting Ms Fitzsimons told reporters she had come to the mall because she was not going to be sharing any stage with Mr Key in any forum or debate during the campaign, and questions needed to be asked.

She said she was pleased National was committed to the Kyoto Protocol but she was concerned by farmers getting an even softer ride under the ETS than they were under the legislation which had been passed by Labour, the Greens and New Zealand First.

- NZPA