9. Energy and Resources Minister—Statements on Offshore ExplorationJONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and ResourcesEnergy and Resources Minister—Statements on Offshore Exploration9. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Energy and Resources: Does she stand by all of her statements and actions regarding the Government's decision to ban further offshore oil and gas exploration?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice) on behalf of the Minister of Energy and Resources: Yes and in particular I stand by my statement: I don't want to see an abrupt transition that leaves industries stagnant communities without a future and individuals without hope. What I want to see is a clear transparent and well managed pathway to a new economy." That is what this Government is doing.Jonathan Young: When you were asked on Q+A "Did you—SPEAKER: Order!Jonathan Young: Sorry. When the Minister was asked on Q+A "Did she talk to them"—referring to Methanex"—beforehand?" and she said "Yes and we talked to the industry."—so when was her actual dialogue with Methanex about no more offshore block offers?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I have spoken to the industry and individual members of the industry including Methanex on multiple occasions between November last year and the end of March this year and spoke to Methanex specifically before the announcement was made on Thursday 12 April.Jonathan Young: When she was asked on Q+A whether Methanex knew that this was coming and she replied "Absolutely … They were at the petroleum conference when I went and gave a speech." what part of her most direct comment on block offers that "the Government is actively considering this issue and we'll have an announcement in the coming weeks" would enable them to absolutely know there will be no more offshore block offers?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I spoke extensively in my speech at the oil and gas industry conference including announcing that there would be no announcement on Block Offer 2018 and giving an extensive treatise on the Government proposed transition as a response to not announcing the 2018 block offer.Jonathan Young: What is her response to Methanex's comment that they were disappointed over the Government's decision to end offshore block offers and the lack of consultation with industry that has gone into making this decision?Hon ANDREW LITTLE: The announcement that the Government made on Thursday 12 April was a significant announcement and there is no question that many of those in the industry felt disappointed because they were going to have to and are going to have to think about how they transition their industry over the next 30 40 or 50 years which will be the duration of ongoing exploration under the existing permits. But what we are not going to do is take the stance that the leader of his party takes on environmental matters and follow the St Augustine principle of "Lord make me chaste but not quite right now."Jonathan Young: What does the Minister say when it was reported in a public meeting yesterday that the Hon Andrew Little has said to a petroleum professional in New Plymouth that the decision to end new offshore exploration has not yet been made.Hon ANDREW LITTLE: I would say that the person who said that at the meeting hosted by the Leader of the Opposition and the various Taranaki MPs who are members of the National Party—that that person did not listen to what the Hon Andrew Little was saying."