Ruth Dyson
Conservation spokesperson
6 September 2011
MEDIA STATEMENT

Conservation job losses will have an impact

The loss of up to 100 Department of Conservation staff will have a huge impact on both the conservation estate and local communities, Labour Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“Since National came into office it has repeatedly reduced the ability of the Department of Conservation to advocate on issues,” Ruth Dyson said.

“National is now deliberately trying to undermine the effectiveness of the Department of Conservation.

“The Government has massively under-invested in pest control, the department’s budget was cut by $54 million in 2009, there was a disastrous attempt to further open up conservation land to mining and the Minister of Conservation herself was stripped of her power of veto over mining in the public estate.

“National needs to stop cutting funding and services such as advocacy and start seeing the public estate as the jewel in New Zealand’s tourism crown which is worth investing in and protecting.

“Clearly these latest cuts will impact the work of the department and the communities it serves. It would be ridiculous to claim otherwise.

“National told New Zealanders it would not cut frontline public services. This has been exposed as a lie,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

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