Media Release: EDS welcomes reappointment of Dr Nick Smith to Cabinet

The Environmental Defence Society has welcomed the reappointment by Prime Minister John Key of Dr Nick Smith to cabinet.

“Dr Smith is one of the most knowledgeable National Party members when it comes to environmental and sustainability issues. His reappointment to Cabinet will ensure we have another voice for these issues when decisions are made,” said EDS Chairman Gary Taylor.

“We understand why the Prime Minister has chosen to keep Amy Adams in the Environment portfolio. She is doing a good job so far.

“But giving Dr Smith Conservation and Housing makes sense. Both of these portfolios require a sound understanding of environmental sustainability.

“We look forward to working with Dr Smith in his Conservation portfolio and in particular making progress with much needed Oceans reform and restoring the Department of Conservation’s budget to a realistic level.

“With Housing, Dr Smith is likely to better understand the drivers for housing affordability than his predecessor. Closer alignment between the Auckland Council and Government will be helpful in meeting the challenges of growth in New Zealand’s largest city.

“We are also very pleased to see Nikki Kaye appointed to Cabinet. Nikki Kaye is an active member of the National Party’s Bluegreens,” Mr Taylor concluded.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

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Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

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Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

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