Cut tax for eco-friendly firms, say Greens

5:00AM Monday Feb 12, 2007

Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons wants business-tax cut plans reformed to promote environmental sustainability.

She told her party's policy conference in Rotorua that the central plank in the Government's business-tax review seemed to be a cut from 33c to 30c.

"That's not going to transform anything," Ms Fitzsimons said. "The companies mining coal will get it along with those using solar energy. Those using highly toxic pesticides will get it along with those using integrated pest management or organics. The wasteful as well as the careful, the heads-in-the-sand brigade along with the innovators, those talking sustainability seriously along with those thumbing their noses at it."

Ms Fitzsimons said $1 billion of business-tax cuts could be redirected to encourage companies to reduce carbon emissions.

She said this could be achieved with tax incentives for investment in:

* Energy-saving or renewable energy technologies that would pay for themselves over the life of the investment.

* Plant or processes that reduced pollution, waste and use of toxic materials.

* Research and development into sustainable production.

* Staff training in cleaner production technologies and energy auditing.