Maryan
STREET
Environment Spokesperson
9 April 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Words give meaning to real RMA agenda

The Minister for the Environment has refused to be moved by the concerns of the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment about the government's second wave of proposals to amend the Resource Management Act, says Labour's Environment spokesperson, Maryan Street.

"In answering questions in the House today, the Minister for the Environment, Amy Adams, arrogantly asserted that the Commissioner had a different view from the government when it came to economic development, and made it clear that the government’s view would prevail. We are left wondering what the job of the Commissioner for the Environment is in that case.

"New Zealanders are not stupid. How on earth could deleting the words 'maintenance', 'enhancement', and 'protection' – as the reforms propose - possibly lead to cleaner lakes and rivers and better care of our environment?

"The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, who is required to consider all legislation and proposals which might impact on our precious environment, has called the proposed changes 'far more radical than any previous amendments to the RMA'.

“Her views should be taken notice of, not dismissed out of hand.

"This government is doing little to negate the view that it has an agenda to give big business carte blanche to exploit our environment.”

ENDS

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