Government must deliver on Pike River

Damien O’Connor  | 
Thursday, July 11, 2013 – 16:37

The Government is still refusing to make any commitment to paying compensation to Pike River families despite setting aside $100 million of the asset sales slush fund to prop up Solid Energy, and in spite of the part the Department of Labour has played in the tragedy, West Coast-Tasman Labour MP Damien O’Connor says.

“The court ruled $3.4 million compensation should be made to families, yet the failure of Pike River Coal effectively lets company directors walk away scot-free.

“Even if that is allowed under current law, it is immoral and unjust.

“In the House today I asked the Minister of Labour, Simon Bridges, whether the law would be changed. Again, he failed to commit the National Government to a fair and just outcome for families.

“This is the same Government that can see a need to spend $100 million of asset sales money on Solid Energy to help with its ‘recovery’.

“The fact that one director of Pike River has indicated he was prepared to consider paying some reparation shouldn’t be used as an excuse for further inaction by Mr Bridges and his Cabinet colleagues.

“It is time for the Government to deliver; firstly, the recovery of the Pike River mine drift and then just compensation for 29 grieving and frustrated families.”