10 October 2014

Key’s Possible Changes to RMA Reforms Could Be Move in Right Direction

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has cautiously welcomed suggestions by the Prime Minister that the Government might back away from its original proposals to weaken the principles of the Resource Management Act, in order to broaden political support.

“UnitedFuture has consistently opposed any plans to weaken the principles of the RMA, which was a major reason why the Government gave up plans to amend the Act before the election.

“Our positon is unchanged, but the Prime Minister’s reported comments that the Government could look to retaining the principles sections of the RMA (sections 6 & 7), with the possible addition of a requirement for the consenting process to take economic factors into account, are a glimmer of hope about a possible way forward,” he says.

Mr Dunne says it is far too soon to say whether UnitedFuture would support such a move “as we have yet to see any detail or proposed wording” but that it was “encouraging that the Government appears to be moving away from its previously intransigent position.”

He says UnitedFuture has always supported proposals to speed up the processes under which the RMA operated, and would have supported legislation to do so during the previous Parliament, had the Government not intended to gut the principles of the RMA at the same time.

“That was simply a bridge too far – and if the Prime Minister is now prepared to recognise that, then there may be a way forward that meets all concerns, but time will tell,” he says.

Mr Dunne says the Prime Minister’s comments yesterday show once more the value small parties add to the policy process.

“I am absolutely certain that had it not been for the opposition of UnitedFuture and the Māori Party over the last couple of years, the RMA would have been well and truly gutted by now,” he says.

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