Shirley Ken: Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
Shirley Ken: Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:612;Page:9294] 
Hon KEN SHIRLEY (Deputy Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I put it to MrJones who just resumed his seat that he is quite confused on this issue. This bill of itself is an important bill. We regularly see other Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bills before this Parliament. With the extensive public reserves it is important that there is fine-tuning from time to time. Bits are added bits are sold and status and designation change. What the Opposition members are really saying—and it is actually in the select committee report—is that here was an opportunity for the Minister of Conservation to have actually had some foresight and to have changed the ecological reserve status on the Card Creek catchment which was the only obstacle to the Card Creek or the Arnold River power scheme of TrustPower proceeding. 
The Minister of Conservation Chris Carter misled this Parliament. He said there was no way that it was impossible for that designation to be changed. Well the point is that it was not impossible. This is the bill the vehicle that does make it possible—if he had had the foresight to change the designation and include it in this bill. He failed to do so and that is indeed very regrettable. 
 The Minister Damien O’Connor is in a rather perilous position because he has been a lion in the electorate on this issue. He tells them he will go to Wellington and will fight for the West Coasters because he is one of them. He goes into the pub from time to time and tells them he is fighting for them on this issue. What is his position today? He is a lamb in Parliament. Jim Anderton has also written letters saying that he supports that power scheme proceeding and he is negotiating and working with his parliamentary colleagues to change their minds. If he were true to his word he would be here today with Damien O’Connor standing shoulder to shoulder—and with the ACT party United Future New Zealand First and National that could happen. The only thing standing in front of the Card Creek TrustPower power scheme proceeding is Jim Anderton and Damien O’Connor who claimed to champion it when they were in the electorate but in Parliament they go belly up. 
Let us turn to the Minister in the chair the Hon Rick Barker. Members may not realise he is a Greymouth boy; the son of a coal miner born and raised on the West Coast. He does not say that around Hastings and in the Hawke’s Bay but he is a Coaster. With his avuncular style it reeks of his being a Coaster at heart. We can all tell that. He knows the feeling on the West Coast for this scheme but what is he doing? He is sitting there like a maturing cheese. He is not prepared to stand on principle for those hard-working Coasters who for generations have recognised that this scheme would be ideal. 
Let us look at the blows that this Government has dealt to the West Coast. Soon after becoming the Government in 1999 it reneged on the West Coast Accord. I put a lot of work along with others into the accord back in 1987. Who signed the West Coast Accord on behalf of the Crown? It was the then Minister for the Environment—actually the first Minister for the Environment for this country—the Hon Phil Goff.He signed the West Coast Accord which stated that in perpetuity lands would be set aside for the sustainable management of the West Coast’s forests—not all of them; just a few. A whole lot went into the conservation estate—about 80 percent—but a small area which was production forestry was set aside for jobs investment and products of high-quality indigenous wood products. That was a deal in perpetuity signed by the unions the Labour Government of the day by Phil Goff on behalf of the Crown and everyone else—all the local bodies of the West Coast. 
What did this Labour Government do on coming to power? It screwed it up. It reneged on a deal that a former Labour Government had signed in perpetuity. That will never be forgotten on the West Coast. The Government tried to bribe the West Coast with $120 million but we are saying that the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill—[ 
Interruption 
] Tariana Turia made the observation they took the money. I could think of a few analogies with the treaty grievance industry. They will always take the money. I tell the member not be surprised when the Government throws out taxpayer money that people put their hands out and grab it quickly.