Synfuels inquiry sought
Political reporter
The Auditor-General will be asked by the Opposition to inquire into how the Synfuels plant and Maui gas contract were valued for sale. Mr Bill Birch, who as the Minister of Energy was instrumental in developing the Synfuel project, said a court case could result.
“If that inquiry discloses failures by Labour
Ministers to meet their statutory obligations the Opposition will embark on a private prosecution through the courts,” he said.
The sales reeked of a Government desperate to meet its expanding expenditure by sale of the family silver. Mr Birch said yesterday’s announcement was another big step towards New Zealand’s becoming
a corporate State. Petrocorp is owned by Fletcher Challenge.
“Many New Zealand manufacturers and households depend on natural gas as a primary energy and they are now entirely in the hands of New Zealand’s biggest company,” he said.
Petrocorp would have total ownership of New Zealand’s natural gas and oil production.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19881209.2.47
Bibliographic details
Press, 9 December 1988, Page 6
Word Count
158Synfuels inquiry sought Press, 9 December 1988, Page 6
Using This Item
Stuff Ltd is the copyright owner for the Press. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 New Zealand licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Stuff Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Copyright in all Footrot Flats cartoons is owned by Diogenes Designs Ltd. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise these cartoons and make them available online as part of this digitised version of the Press. You can search, browse, and print Footrot Flats cartoons for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Diogenes Designs Ltd for any other use.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Christchurch City Libraries.