Damien
O’CONNOR
Labour West Coast/ Tasman MP

Thursday, 5 May 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Time for the Government to front up

Now is the time for the National Government to honor its commitment to the Grey District and the Pike River families that money would not be an issue and everything that could be done will be done to recover the remains of the 29 men trapped in the mine, said Damien O’Connor, West Coast Labour MP.

“The mine has been stable for weeks, the exploratory drill holes have been completed and there are skilled miners willing to undertake a recovery operation,” Damien O’Connor said.

“This will be an expensive and complex operation but I am told it is possible and the only missing component is money to pay for the operation.

“John Key himself promised to quote, ‘do everything he could to get their men out’.
Families have been through emotional turmoil from emerging internal mine images, on-going reassurances but little real progress.

“I trust the wisdom and commitment of the Mines Rescue personal to make the final judgement on recovery a recovery operation but payment should not be an issue as the Prime Minister promised.

“The Government is in a position to pressure the receivers and major shareholders to honor their responsibilities in any way they can.

“The National Government were prepared to allocate $43million for TV3 and MediaWorks so they should be prepared to pay whatever is necessary to recover the remains of 29 miners. Any money spent recovering the remains of the miners will be recovered when the valuable underground resource is sold so this is both an ethical and economic proposition,” said Damien O’Connor.

ENDS

© Scoop Media