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Key rejects Shaw's offer of climate change consensus

Author
Frances Cook ,
Publish Date
Tue, 2 Jun 2015, 4:30PM
New Green co-leader James Shaw (Getty Images)
New Green co-leader James Shaw (Getty Images)

Key rejects Shaw's offer of climate change consensus

Author
Frances Cook ,
Publish Date
Tue, 2 Jun 2015, 4:30PM

The new Green co-leader has successfully held his own in his first debate against the Prime Minister, but gained no ground on a climate change deal.

James Shaw used Question Time in parliament to push John Key on a cross-party agreement, saying they should follow the UK's lead.

Bitter political enemies David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Ed Miliband managed to come up with a deal they all agreed to before the general election earlier this year.

Mr Key isn't going for it, arguing the Green Party doesn't really want a discussion, but to impose their own view.

He said putting in Green targets would be disastrous for the economy.

Mr Key also couldn't resist a quip, saying that if Mr Shaw is going to model himself on Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, he'd need to organise his farewell drinks as well as congratulatory ones.

Mr Shaw refused to give up, saying parties should be able to put their differences aside, and accusing Mr Key of setting his sights too low by not even trying.

Help arrived in the unusual form of Winston Peters.

The New Zealand First leader has typically been frosty towards the Green Party, but raised a point of order with the Speaker, accusing the Prime Minister of refusing to answer repeated questions from Mr Shaw.

While Mr Peters could simply have been taking the opportunity to take the Prime Minister to task, it also raises the possibility of a slightly warmer relationship between Greens and New Zealand First.

Outside the debating chamber, Mr Shaw says they're not giving up on the issue.

He took another swing at Mr Key, saying it's weird for someone who brokers so many deals to refuse to even discuss something.

Mr Shaw said all signs point to the government going for a weak target at the U.N.'s Paris climate conference in six months, but he's still hopeful he can make a difference before then.

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