National and Act let down our marine life
How utterly disappointing that with its first opportunity to make a difference for life in our seas our new government has let us down – and not just us: more importantly, they’ve let down our threatened and endangered marine life.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei’s private member’s bill – the Marine Animals Protection Law Reform Bill – aimed to help threatened Hector’s dolphins, New Zealand sea lions, albatrosses and other endangered seabirds and marine life recover from dramatic population declines and disturbances. One such sub-species – the Maui’s dolphin – has a population of just 111 individuals.
Yet last night, at its first reading, both the National and Act parties opposed further consideration of the bill by select committee, making the final tally 63 opposed to 58 support. Those supporting the bill and wanting further discussion of this very important issue included the Maori Party, Labour, Progressives and of course the Greens (United Future’s Peter Dunne was overseas so could not cast a vote).
Even more disappointing is that none of the principal ministers (Conservation, Environment, Tourism, etc) even bothered to turn up to hear the bill’s first reading, with backbench MP Colin King delivering the fatal blow instead.
Forest & Bird were present at Parliament for the first hearing and were let down by what we heard. Subsequent discussions with officials at MPs’ offices reveal that the primary reason for not supporting the bill was the “harmful and serious impacts” it may have on the fishing industry.
Well, who can argue?
Forest & Bird can.
