Jennings Seeks Delay in RMA Amendment Bill

Wednesday 18th Apr 2001 Owen Jennings Media Release -- Other

Confusion over the future of the Resource Management Act led ACT MP Owen Jennings to move an urgent motion in today’s Local Government and Environment Select Committee seeking a delay in consideration of the RMA Amendment Bill.

“On the one hand the Government is working on an Amendment Bill that will make the RMA more complex, more draconian, and more off-putting to investors and developers. But now, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have announced they want a review to make the Act simpler and easier to use” said Owen Jennings.

“Are the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister so out-of-touch that they are unaware of the Amendment Bill passage, or is this another case of the Coalition Government providing one story for the international business community and another for local consumption? The Greens will be most interested in the suggestions coming from the Deputy Prime Minister.

“It will be very revealing to see whether the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister support my private members Bill – Resource Management (Controlled and Discretionary Activities) Amendment Bill – which will be before the House in the next few weeks.

“My Bill seeks to make RMA processes smoother and more efficient. I am sure the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister will be keen to take an early opportunity to deliver on their new-found enthusiasm for better process.

“With the most recent comments from the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, this whole issue has become farcical and requires urgent clarification,” Owen Jennings said.

The issue is to be discussed by the Select Committee next week.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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