‘Surprises’ in bill

Press, 17 April 1982, Page 1

‘Surprises’ in bill

PA Wellington The Opposition member of Parliament for Papanui, Mr M. K, Moore, predicts surprises in the lobbies of Parliament next week when he tries to introduce a bill to amend the National Development Act.

Mr Moore said he hoped, that Ms Marilyn Waring (Nat:, Whipa) and Mr M. J. Minogue. (Nat., .Hamilton West) would maintain their past opposition to the act by crossing the floor of the House to support his proposed amendments. The two members, plus Dr I. J. Shearer, now Minister for the Environment, .crossed the floor of the House when the original bill, which sets big development projects on a "fast track,” was introduced in 1979.

Last year, when the Government amended the act to curtail the powers of the Commissioner for 1 the Environment, Mr K. Piddington, Ms Waring and Mr Minogue again crossed the floor of the House. Mr Moore said yesterday

that the maiden speeches of some of the new Government members had convinced him that it would be a grand opportunity for members such as Miss Ruth Richardson (Nat.. Selwyn) and Mr S. D. Upton (Nat., Waikato) to support the measure. “I know that the bill will have the general support of many of the new members of Parliament and I think there will be some surprise in the lobbies. Both clauses of my bill are workable, have been to committees before, and are worthy of widespread support,” said Mr Moore.

Mr Moore’s' bill aims to replace the provision in the act whereby the commission can comment on the economic implications of a project. Last year’s amendment deprived him of this power, leaving him to comment solely on the environmental implications of a scheme. The bill would also give Parliament the right to veto an Order-in-Council of a Minister when the Planning Tribunal differs from the Government.