Hon Roger Sowry MP National Party Energy Spokesman
29 July 2004
Government gags business again
The Government has asserted in Parliament this afternoon that Transpower has changed its strongly held position of
yesterday, that the proposed seabed and foreshore legislation has the potential to compromise power supplies, says
National Party Energy spokesman Roger Sowry.
"Transpower was adamant yesterday before a Parliamentary select committee that the Government's proposed legislation
would seriously hinder the laying of a new Cook Strait cable and could prevent maintenance work on the existing cable.
"Under questions today, Michael Cullen could not confirm whether the Energy Minister's office had contacted Transpower
expressing anger at the embarrassment caused by the company's submission. But he was able to confirm that the Government
operated on a 'no surprises' basis, and the Transpower submission fell outside that criteria.
"It stretches the realms of credibility for Transpower to have a strongly held view one day, then change its tune the
next without some kind of message coming from above.
"Once again the Government is stifling business concerns about infrastructure," says Mr Sowry.
ENDS