Boo-Boo's Boo-Boo

Friday 20 Feb 2004 Ken Shirley Press Releases -- Environment & Conservation

As a member of the Parliamentary Environment and Local Government Select Committee, I am incensed by Environment Minister Marion Hobbs' announced intention to call for nominations this month for membership of the Waitaki Catchment Allocation Board, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

"Ms Hobbs' Government is using every means to ram through special fast-track legislation for Project Aqua with indecent haste. The local community is outraged by the truncated process, and Labour is treating the Select Committee with contempt," Mr Shirley said.

"The key element of the proposed legislation being considered by Select Committee is the formation and composition of a water allocation board. Many submitters considered it inappropriate for these allocation board members to be appointed by the Minister - especially given the fact that Project Aqua is a Government scheme.

"There are many issues concerning the board's composition that must be carefully considered by the Select Committee, which is due to complete its hearings and report back to Parliament by the March 22.

"Despite this, the Minister is arrogantly requesting nominations for membership to a board that does not yet exist in law, and the composition of which could well be changed by the Select Committee to remove the provision for Ministerial appointment.

"The Minister is acting in arrogant disregard for due process, which is an affront to the Select Committee process," Mr Shirley said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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