ministers, understand the nature of the high value coking coal on the Denniston Plateau; as the below article shows where an unthinking Labour minister was bought into line by The Machine
From the Westport "The News"
MP’s comments‘body blow’ to Coast
By Keira Stephenson
West Coast-Tasman MP Chris Auchinvole is challenging Labour to come clean with the West Coast on its mining policy. He was responding to front bench Labour MP Maryan Street’s comments opposing mining on the Denniston Plateau and supporting a moratorium on fossil fuel extraction. Mr Auchinvole said Ms Street had let the cat out of the bag. Labour would shut down the West Coast’s coal mining industry costing hundreds of jobs – “just like they shut down our forest industry when last in Government”, he said. Ms Street made her comments at a public climate change debate in Nelson in September that was filmed for Youtube. When asked if she supported a moratorium on new fossil fuel extraction in New Zealand, Ms Street replied: “I think we have to consider that. We are very opposed to the mining of lignite in Southland. “I am opposed to the proposals for the Denniston Plateau. That is something that doesn’t need to happen. We need to be more imaginative than digging up what’s underneath us. We need to be more imaginative at looking at the resources that surround us that are renewable and I think a moratorium is a very good idea.” In the video, Ms Street said Labour would want to have moved to 100 percent renewable energy by 2040 and “ween ourselves off fossil fuels”. It wouldn’t happen overnight but the party’s energy policy included research and development into alternative sources such as bio-fuels, hydro, and wind, she said. Mr Auchinvole said Ms Street’s statements on the Denniston Plateau were a “body blow for the West Coast”. The recently approved Bathurst Resources’ Denniston mining proposal, (now being appealed in the Environment Court) would create 424 new jobs in the next three years. This was the best prospect for jobs and economic development for the West Coast, said Mr Auchinvole. “This announcement by Labour is particularly insulting after the job losses from the Pike River Mine disaster. The West Coast needs the jobs and economic development opportunities from this Denniston Plateau coal mine. “The West Coast just cannot trust Labour on resource policies. They should have had the courage to tell the Buller people directly that they would block this mine rather than announce it to an urban green audience in Nelson. “It is just another sign that Labour has abandoned its West Coast roots,” said Mr Auchinvole. O’Connor responds Coast-based Labour List MP Damien O’Connor said all MPs were entitled to their own personal opinions, but Labour policy clearly stated its support for further mining on the West Coast. “Labour has developed more mines in its time in Government than National did during the whole of the 1990s,” said Mr O’Connor. “Ms Street may have a personal opinion, but it is not Labour Party policy and I think this is a desperate attempt by the National member to twist the truth.” Labour was focussed on developing more renewable energy sources, but New Zealand relied on coal and gas for a substantial part of its electricity generation and that wouldn’t change in the near future. The vast majority of coal mined on the West Coast was for coking and high value purposes and the policy was very clear that Labour continued to support mining. He had not discussed Ms Street’s views with her.
Of course with Gaffes like Ms Streets and the lurking Greens I do hope the polls are right and the Nationals are alected Back into office.
Viney
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