let’s bulldoze this bill into oblivion

Minister Chris Bishop has already said he would listen to the wave of opposition to the Bill, which appears to be coming from all sides, even from independent government watchdogs like the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment and the Auditor General, both concerned at the extreme power the bill could give to Ministers.

Tim Jones and Tom Powell presented our submission to the Select Committee last Friday (here’s a copy of it – have a read), repeating the issues we are most concerned with: it’s anti democratic, it undermines and ignores Te Tiriti, and would let things like the Te Kuha coal mine get past the consent stage, despite already having been turned down by the likes of the Environment Court.

And on Friday the Ombudsman also weighed in, stating the unchecked ministerial powers could put the country on a “a slippery slope”.

“On the one hand, I can see why speed achieves what’s wanted with a beefing up of executive power, but unless that’s matched by oversight and accountability, then I think democracy itself is the loser.”

Meanwhile, without even having final legislation passed, the government invited companies wanting to be listed in the bill to apply. That deadline was last week. As Dame Anne Salmond pointed out:

“They are behaving as if the select committee process has already been decided, and public concerns about this draft legislation have been dismissed in advance.  That is an insult to tens of thousands of New Zealanders who are writing submissions opposing this bill, and to the select committee process as well.”

So we need to keep up the pressure. Sign up here to join the March for Nature in Tāmaki Makaurau, 1pm on June 8

CAFT
Meanwhile, we’ve been working behind the scenes with a new group called Communities Against the Fast Track, a fantastic group of like-minded organisations.

Check out the latest activity:
We’re challenging the government’s Select Committee process
Providing a guide for the lucky few who are chosen to make an oral submission
Keep an eye on the CAFT website for updates, get on their mailing list and find ways to continue this fight

The post Keeping the pressure up against the fast-track bill: join us on June 8 in the March for Nature appeared first on Coal Action Network Aotearoa.

By Tim Jones

What’s the Government planning to do?

The recently introduced Fast-track Approval Bill is a massive power grab by the new Government. Under it, three Ministers will have the power to arbitrarily decide that projects, including coal mines on conservation land, can go ahead without any public input. Radio New Zealand has produced a great explainer about the Bill which is vital reading – please do read it!

It gets worse. The Bill gives the Government the power to resurrect projects that have already been rejected by the courts – including the proposed Te Kuha coal mine on the West Coast, which Forest & Bird and CANA have worked together to oppose.

Fast track protest in Karangahake gorge, Coromandel, March 2024.
Photo: R Rockell

As the Radio New Zealand explainer says:

This Bill has already provoked protests in Hauraki and Taranaki.

There will be more.

No Fast Track No Seabed Mining protest outside EPA hearings in Hāwera, 13 March. Photo: Matt Coffey

Next,  please write to your nearest MP – especially if they’re an MP from one of the governing parties. Tell them what you, personally, dislike about this Bill, and the consequences the Government is likely to face from pushing this Bill and its hidden list of projects through. Be polite, but leave them in no doubt about what you think and feel.

The coal companies are gloating over this Bill.

But they’ve gloated before, and we’ve left them with egg on their faces. Let’s do it again.

The post Shane Jones, Chris Bishop, and Simeon Brown want the power to authorise mines and motorways on behalf of their mates with the click of a pen. Here’s how to fight back. appeared first on Coal Action Network Aotearoa.