RMA reform gets worse… again!

Just as ACT warned last month, the National-Maori Party RMA deal has got even worse, reaching a botched compromise on genetic modification.

“Just this afternoon, hours before the changes are set to be debated, and with no consultation, National and the Maori Party have confirmed a compromise to allow ministerial override of local plans, except in the case of local GE-free policies," says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“From ACT’s point of view, this is the worst of both worlds. A future Labour or Greens minister will have a field day blocking development using ministerial override powers. Throwing a bone to the anti-science, anti-GE lobby is cold comfort.

“This is compromise at its worst – a nonsensical mash of different positions that leaves everyone unhappy or confused. National supporters are contacting me, dumbstruck at the concessions their party has handed to iwi and the green lobby.

“All this could have been avoided if National had listened to ACT two years ago, or one year ago, or last month, and taken up one of our many offers to produce RMA reform without Maori Party interference. This reform would actually get houses built, without adding new iwi bureaucracy.

“Today and tomorrow Parliament will vote on ACT’s proposals to fix the Resource Legislation Bill by abolishing iwi provisions, cutting red tape, enshrining property rights, and preventing ministerial overreach. National supporters will be very interested in how their party votes.”

ENDS

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