Phil Heatley MP
National Party Fisheries Spokesman

30 March 2006

Heatley seeks aquaculture inquiry

National Party Fisheries spokesman Phil Heatley is disappointed that a change of heart by Labour MP Dover Samuels has cost the public the opportunity to find out why aquaculture reform’s gone so horribly wrong.

“Mr Samuels has said the legislation is unworkable, and that he planned to take it up with members of the Primary Production Select Committee. Yet today, when offered the opportunity to back an inquiry, Mr Samuels changed his tune.

“I can only assume Mr Samuels has been ordered back into line by Labour colleagues who stand to be embarrassed by any closer examination of the flawed aquaculture legislation.”

Mr Heatley wrote to the committee supporting an inquiry on the grounds that no new Aquaculture Management Areas have been established since the process was passed into law last year.

“With our natural resources, clean water and business smarts, New Zealand should aim to be harnessing the full potential of our aquaculture industry.

“Instead, Labour has put in place a cumbersome set of regulations that few are satisfied with, including, it would seem, Mr Samuels,” says Mr Heatley.

ENDS

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