RMA Another Government U-Turn

Tuesday 30 Mar 2004 Ken Shirley Press Releases -- Primary & Secondary Education

Having spent its four years in office refusing to streamline the Resource Management Act to make it more user-friendly, the Labour Government is now in a panic and has announced yet another U-turn, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

"In 2000, a Select Committee recommended a major RMA amendment - involving 12 important streamlining measures - to the incoming Labour Government, ," Mr Shirley said.

"Labour's response was to overturn them all, choosing instead to make changes to the Act, which compounded its difficulties.

"A few months ago, Environment Minister Marian Hobbs defended the RMA, describing it as `beautifully written and beautifully balanced'.

"But it is now clear that the Government is on the ropes, and engaging in another U-turn in a bid to save its shattered public image. I doubt, however, that the New Zealand public will be duped - Labour had its chance, and it blew it," 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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