Nyrstar figures needed to back emissions claims: Greens

13/11/2008 20:52:53

The Australian Greens party says the zinc producer Nyrstar must produce its economic figures to justify why it's threatening to shut down its Australian operations under an emissions trading scheme.

Nyrstar says if the Australian government's planned scheme goes ahead, its smelters at Hobart and in the South Australian town of Port Pirie would not be internationally competitive.

But the Greens deputy leader, Christine Milne, says Nyrstar already operates smelters overseas where energy prices are much higher, and it should be forced to explain why it can't do the same here.

"But the key issue here is to challenge their assumptions, let's have a look at the modelling they've done, let's have a look at what they've spent on energy efficiency, let's actually ask why they're not leaving the US and Europe where energy prices are higher," she said.

"Let's have a little bit more rational discussion than just posturing ahead of the ETS."

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