Threat to introduce nuclear bill again

Press, 10 August 1985, Page 9

Threat to introduce nuclear bill again

PA Wellington The deputy leader of the Democratic Party, Mr Garry Knapp has threatened to bring in a bill of his own unless the Government introduces effective nuclearfree legislation to Parliament within 30 days. The bill would be a replica of one titled the Nuclear-Free New Zealand Bill, introduced in 1984 by the then Opposition member for Auckland Central, now Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble. Mr Prebble’s bill banned nuclear weapons and prohibited . nuclear-powered vessels, nuclear power stations and the dumping of nuclear waste in New Zealand. Mr Knapp said a bill he introduced last September — the Prohibition of Nuclear Vessels and Weapons Bill— had still not been reported back from its select committee.

“Clearly, it is a source of embarrassment to the Government in that it reflects the wishes of the majority

of New Zealanders and the stated policy of the Labour Government,” Mr Knapp said. The South Pacific Forum, split over its nuclear free zone treaty should “bring an end to any further stonewalling actions of the Prime Minister in respect of nuclear-free legislation,” Mr Knapp said. “The time has come for Mr Lange to put legislation where his mouth has been since his Government’s election over a year ago,” he said.