16 July 2004

Brash nostalgic for Muldoonism

Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons says Don Brash's support for the Dobson hydro scheme shows National wants to return to the days of Muldoonism by overriding the law.

The National leader said last night that the Dobson scheme on the West Coast would go ahead under a government led by his party.

"Not since Muldoon have we seen a political leader say they will set aside the law and due process to facilitate a specific power project," said Ms Fitzsimons, the Green Party's Conservation and Energy Spokesperson.

"Do New Zealanders really want to return to the days of politicians deciding what does and doesn't go ahead in their backyard, with no hearing of evidence or right of objection?

"The Dobson hydro scheme is illegal under the Conservation Act; the area of land is specifically gazetted so that it cannot be taken out of the conservation estate without legislation. Even if that were done, you would still need to have a process to weigh the costs and benefits of the scheme.

"But in his comments reported today, Don Brash would over rule all of that and give his go-ahead to this project from on high. If that's not the Government 'picking winners', which National claim to be opposed to, I don't know what is.

"And all for a very minor scheme that would produce no more than 60Mw, a third of a year's growth in demand," said Ms Fitzsimons.

ENDS

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