Ruth
DYSON
Conservation Spokesperson 251659264

10 October 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Back NZ – but not just the ABs, Mr Key

Continued excuses from the Prime Minister regarding the environmental time-bomb facing the Bay of Plenty won’t wash, says Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson.

“John Key’s latest response to questions about why the Government didn’t move earlier is that New Zealand doesn’t have the experts to deal with incidents like this because there would be no point – they would be under-utilised.

“Yet look what’s happening when we do – the salvage and clean-up is having to wait while experts and equipment are brought in from overseas.

“Surely having a skilled team on stand-by here makes sense – it could deal instantly with any local spill, and could be deployed elsewhere as part of an international response when necessary,” Ruth Dyson said.

“New Zealand used to lead the world, we were innovators. Mr Key’s comments raise serious questions about his commitment to investing in this country’s future.

“We should be encouraging Kiwis to become skilled, we should be ambitious about investing in exactly the sort of people the Prime Minister says we don’t need.

“Mr Key has also tried to separate deep sea oil exploration from this incident. While the risks and hazards might be different, the potential cost to the environment from an accidental spill or leak, is exactly the same.

“It is not so much the cause that’s the issue, but rather our readiness to deal with it. The Prime Minister flew over the site on Sunday, made some conciliatory remarks, pointed a finger, and disappeared.

“That same evening he was in Christchurch happily answering questions from a television reporter about his favourite All Blacks. Rugby is a game, the Bay of Plenty’s future is on the line here - it can’t be kicked for touch,” Ruth Dyson said.

ends

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