Labour and the Greens are putting pressure on the Government
over mining in conservation land, saying the public isn't
going to accept it and ministers should come clean with their
proposals.
Opposition MPs used question time in Parliament yesterday to
demand answers about the Government's intentions, but they
didn't get any.
Prime Minister John Key told them they would have to wait for
the release of the discussion document which will set out
where and how valuable minerals might be mined in the
conservation estate.
"I think when the discussion document is released New
Zealanders will have the opportunity to see how balanced the
approach is," he said.
"That balance is between economic opportunities and
environmental responsibilities."
The Government last year carried out a stocktake of minerals
in the conservation estate, which have an estimated value of
at least $140 billion.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei wanted confirmation that
the Government was going to give the mining industry a $4
million subsidy to survey Kahurangi, Mt Aspiring and Rakiura
national parks for minerals.
Mr Key said he wasn't in a position to confirm that at this
stage.
Ms Turei said the Government was delaying its decisions.
"Week after week the prime minister is torturing himself and
the public with his shifting rhetoric about balancing the
environment against the economy," she said.
"There is no way to 'balance' permanently destroying our last
remaining wild places against a short-term, one-off gain for
foreign mining companies."
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