Horan Brendan: Marine Legislation Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHoran Brendan: Marine Legislation Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 24 September 2013. Volume:693;Page:13629. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]BRENDAN HORAN (Independent): I rise to take a call on Part 2 of the Marine Legislation Bill. Part 2 amends the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012. As I observed in the debate on Part 1 of the bill for the initial stages of its progress through the House the bill was not too controversial. There was unanimous support for the first reading. In the debate at the time however I took a call and said that the support I voiced was with some reservations.In Part 2 we have Supplementary Order Paper 347 from the Minister Gerry Brownlee with amendments—a Supplementary Order Paper released in August well after the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee reported. The amendments in Supplementary Order Paper 347 have two significant problems. The first is the provision for emergency dumping—that is emergency dumping of waste at sea in the exclusive economic zone beyond the continental shelf. The second is the proposal to create a fourth category of activity the category of non-notified activities.Let us briefly peruse some of these: first the emergency dumping of waste or the so-called dumping of waste. What is the emergency dumping of waste and what could that waste be? What might it entail? Could it be fish? Could it be radioactive material? There is nothing as permanent as a temporary provision for a brief emergency and it certainly opens the gate to all sorts of dumping. With these provisions National is opening up our oceans to dumping.I turn to the new definition of “non-notified activity”. Up to now the exclusive economic zone has had three types of activities within that legislation—that is “permitted” which is things that can be done; “prohibited” which is things that cannot be done; and “discretionary” which is things that can be done in some circumstances. But now this Government is bringing in at the last minute a fourth category the “non-notified activity”. In Supplementary Order Paper 347 we learn that this is to be a discretionary activity that will not—not—be publicly notified. This has a certain stench about it.To fully understand we have to consider the Minister’s consultation document which reveals that only one category of activity is to be non-notified and that is the activity of exploratory offshore drilling. One immediately thinks of the disgusting despicable backyard deals that this Government is so proud of doing. Even at the moment with regard to theRena the smallhapū fromMōtītī Island are fighting for the complete removal of the wreck of theRena off Astrolabe Reef. This Government has done a dirty backyard deal that if theMōtītīhapū fail in getting theRena off the reef the Government gets $10.4 million. This Government has done a backyard deal against the people of New Zealand.Hon Maurice Williamson: What sort of a dirty deal? Like doing your family out of money? That sort of dirty deal?BRENDAN HORAN: There is Mr Williamson. Where was he? He was watching a test match I think when theRena grounded. He was too lazy to get down there and get the oil off theRena. But he is very happy to stand over there and make comments throw comments at me.Hon Maurice Williamson: I’m just asking what sort of a dirty deal we’re talking about here. Is it like taking money off your family or something?BRENDAN HORAN: Unbelievable. What this Government is doing is giving corporations a rubber stamp and saying: “Come over. Get a rubber stamp. Come to our oceans our moana obtain the rubber stamp off the National Government and not be subject to any public consultation or input.” What idiot in New Zealand would drill in 1500 to 3000 metres of water? What is our rapid oil response unit? Three 8-metre aluminium dinghies—three 8-metre aluminium dinghies. But this Government is completely willing to put our entire coastline at risk for a few dollars.It is interesting. We saw on TV the Prime Minister going to church when he has openly stated that he is an atheist. It is interesting that the Pope came out just yesterday and said how Governments’ love of money is destroying families and that is what is happening in New Zealand—this Government’s grubby love of money.David Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. The member should stick to the bill.