15 December 2010

For immediate release

Key betrays Miners

John Key has betrayed the Pike River miners and their families says Kerry Bevin, leader of the Republic of New Zealand Party.

Mr Bevin was reacting to the Government’s announcement that it won’t be putting be putting up the money to secure the mine and recover the bodies of the 29 men who died there.

Mr Bevin doubts if the bodies will ever be recovered now.

“This is a bitter pill for the West coast mining community to swallow.”

He referred to the Prime Minister’s statement that in New Zealand we are all our brothers’ keepers and these miners are our brothers.

“Now we know they were just empty words from the leader of a government that is very good at posturing but hopeless at leading,” he said.

“Our thoughts are with the miners families; the Government has cruelly betrayed them”

Mr Bevin is also concerned about the future of mining on the West Coast, with the news that many of the redundant miners will now leave for Australia.

He said that there is $4 billion worth of lignite still in the seam

“We cannot afford to keep thumbing our noses at opportunities to earn income and provide jobs. The mine needs to be secured and if possible worked again, or we find some other way of getting the lignite,” he said.

“As part of our Centrenomics plan we see this as an opportunity for a joint venture between the Government and private enterprise to mine the lignite in the interests of the West Coast and all kiwis.”

ENDS

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