Don Brash MP National Party Leader
15 September 2004
National says too little too late on RMA
National Party Leader Don Brash says minor amendments will not address the substantial concerns about the delays, costs
and uncertainties of the Resource Management Act.
He's commenting on proposed changes to the Act announced by the Government today.
"These changes are so minor they are farcical. They are designed to politically neutralise an argument the Government is
losing during election year. It will not address the fundamental problems.
"These feeble amendments from Labour are sentencing New Zealanders to more years of traffic congestion, power supply
insecurity and the exporting of more jobs and wealth to Australia.
"Only a year ago, Marian Hobbs claimed her Resource Management Amendment Bill had solved the problems. These latest
changes will be just as ineffective.
"The provisions to stop vexatious and frivolous objections are a farce when only last year the Government amended the
Act prohibiting the Courts from requiring security for costs.
"Changes proposed in respect of iwi will add to the leverage Maori have in the Resource Management process. The Act
needs re-writing to ensure it is colour blind and treats all New Zealanders equally.
"The tragedy is that Labour rejected National's 1999 Resource Management Bill that would have solved these problems
years ago.
"The public now knows that only a change in Government next year will see any substantive reform of the Resource
Management Act," says Dr Brash.
ENDS