4. Mining Marine—South Taranaki BightJAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Economic DevelopmentMining Marine—South Taranaki Bight4. JAMES SHAW (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Economic Development: Does he support the mining of 50 million tonnes of seabed in the South Taranaki Bight where blue whales feed?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister for Economic Development): I do not think it is a question of support but we respect the independent decision of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). We have seen it make decisions against this company and other mining companies before and we have respected those and this decision we will respect as well. What I would say though to the member is that it is not as if the EPA is a soft touch on environmental matters. As I say it has declined it and here we have seen 109 very stringent environmental conditions including 2 years of environmental research that is required by the successful applicant before it can even consider mining. I would also note the very strong economic benefits that come from this project for the people of Taranaki.James Shaw: Is the Minister comfortable with the fact that untried and untested seabed mining has been given go-ahead by a divided decision-making committee where the committee chair had to use his casting vote in order to grant the application?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Oh I do not accept that at all. I think that it has seen these sorts of things happen around the world. I think it is a very rigorous process where the EPA is weighing the environmental effects and the economic benefits and I think the conditions imposed here show it has done that very carefully indeed.James Shaw: What is the Minister's response to submitters' and NGOs' concerns that today's approval does not have a full understanding of the exact impact that seabed mining will have on the South Taranaki Bight?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I think that it has been through a very strong process. Of course we are in an appeal period now. I have already seen reports that there will be appeals so let us see that. But I would say to the member that I appreciate that he is trying to get his Green brand back after thoroughly trashing it over the last couple—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not the answer that will help the order of this House. James Shaw: You cannot blame him for being a bit defensive. Is the Minister not concerned that the views of experts and over 13000 submitters were ignored in approving this seabed mining application even though the full and long-term impacts are not known?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Look I think you know my position is very clear. There has been a very thorough lengthy process here that has involved—as the member is saying quite rightly—a huge number of submissions. Those have been weighed very carefully. It is a 351-page decision that has been made. You know I think that to try to argue that the environmental concerns—which are real—have not been accounted for and weighed carefully is wrong when you consider as I say the 109 conditions that have been imposed here including 2 years of environmental research before the project can even begin. James Shaw: Should the job of the Environmental Protection Agency not be to protect the environment rather than the interests of a mining company?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I think that the environment is obviously—as we know—incredibly important and we must protect it. But what is also true is that we are always having to—if we go to do anything in our physical elements—weigh these things. What we have here I am told—and I believe that the submission process has borne it out—is some $300 million a year in exports and 1000 jobs with most of them in Taranaki. I am sure—indeed I know and I have been advised by officials—that that is being weighed very carefully against the environmental effects and strong conditions have been put in place to safeguard the environment. James Shaw: What is the Minister's response to the fact that a South Taranaki research project this year won a Green Ribbon environmental award for its work on a previously unknown reef that now lies in the path of waste contamination from this seabed mining venture?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I am sure that the EPA has weighed up all of the evidence in relation to the physical environment throughout its very thorough process.