The Green Party is welcoming the Government's backdown on the Fisheries Amendment Bill, but says the Bill needs to be scrapped completely, not just delayed.
“The Government may be at war with nature in their plans to privatise our oceans, conservation land and waterways, but people are pushing back and winning,” says Green Party Co-leader and Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick.
Fisheries Minister Shane Jones today confirmed he would delay the Bill until after the election.
“This is the same Minister who in March dismissed everyone worried about gutting our fisheries as 'noisy voices'. Those noisy voices were scientists, recreational fishers, hapū and ordinary New Zealanders who can see what is happening to our moana.”
“This Bill would have loosened the rules that keep fish stocks from collapsing and kept on-board camera footage hidden from the public, all so a handful of commercial operators could take more out of waters that belong to all of us.”
“New Zealanders should not have to fight their own Government to protect the fish in their own oceans. Delaying this Bill until after the election is not the same as killing it.”
“Our oceans are not a commodity to be carved up for short-term profit. The Green Party will keep fighting alongside the communities who stopped this Bill until it is gone for good,” says Swarbrick.
