Prime Minister Must Reconsider Oil And Gas Ban
The Prime Minister must urgently revisit her Government’s decision to end oil and gas exploration for the good of New
Zealand, Opposition Leader Simon Bridges says.
“The Government didn’t want the advice before making the decision to end oil and gas exploration in New Zealand, but the
advice from officials shows that it will have significant consequences for people’s jobs, the economy, and the
environment.
“In light of this, the Prime Minister must go back to the drawing board and come to a new decision based on evidence and
advice about what’s good for New Zealand.
“The oil and gas decision was based on an assumption that it would be better for the environment, but the advice shows
the Prime Minister was wrong – it will in fact be worse for the environment.
“That’s why the Prime Minister must rethink the decision – she will have realised by now that abruptly ending oil and
gas exploration means we’ll have to either import gas from overseas or turn to coal, both of which will mean higher
emissions.
“Official advice shows that the effect of our largest gas user, Methanex, scaling back its operations in New Zealand
will be higher costs, significantly higher emissions, and methanol produced from coal in China which has up to four
times the emissions of methanol produced from gas.
“Not only that but without exploration there will be no more investment in our oil and gas sector or downstream
industries, which means significantly fewer jobs for New Zealanders.
“This is already having an effect on business confidence which continues to decline month on month. Loss of confidence
is a warning sign for lower investment, fewer jobs, and less money for public services.
“If business confidence continues to deteriorate we risk undoing all the gains hardworking New Zealanders have made in
the last 10 years.
“The Prime Minister needs to do what’s right for New Zealand and put the oil and gas decision at the very top of her
list for urgent reconsideration.”
ENDS