Headline: Block offer 2014 premature without protections
The Block Offer 2014 process for awarding oil and gas exploration permits announced today is premature without proper environmental protections in place, Labour’s Energy spokesperson Moana Mackey says.
“The Exclusive Economic Zone legislation which regulates this activity is overly permissive. Regulations released by Environment Minister Amy Adams since it was passed last year have further weakened an already woefully inadequate law.
“New Zealanders are becoming increasingly concerned about the risks associated with off-shore exploration, especially given the blowout that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster occurred in an exploratory well.
“These fears have been exacerbated by a Government which arrogantly refuses to engage with anxious communities, choosing instead to run roughshod over their concerns. It has also banned the right to protest at sea.
“Labour has repeatedly stated drilling should only take place if we have the capability to manage a disaster and once robust safeguards are in place.
Labour’s Wellington MPs are also concerned about the considerable expansion of the Pegasus-East Coast Basin with an area of 75,136 square kilometres now up for consultation.
“A Labour government will ensure there are strong environmental protections and listen to affected communities concerned about environmental risks,” Moana Mackey says.
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A great press release Moana. It is good to see that Labour is all over this. Just one thing, the government hasn’t banned protest at sea, that is actually physically impossible. What they have done is made it an offence punishable by 2 years in prison and a $50,000 fine. However peaceful protesters prepared to risk their very lives by laying their bodies on the line, floating in the sea in the open ocean in the the path of a huge oil exploration ship are unlikely to be deterred by a two year jail term or a fine.
Moana it would be a lot more reassuring to hear you taking a harder line against oil drilling on the grounds of climate change. Be realistic how safe is oil drilling ever going to be off our coastline no matter what preparations we make. Our climate is destructive enough now with the effects of wind direction change. Get off the fence Labour and promote a green economy! No amount if money is going to make up for the effects of oil and coal on the planet. Leave the oil under the sea for our children’s sake.
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