Tell National to stop its destructive and undemocratic Fast-Track Approvals Bill
Thousands of people have taken to the streets and voiced their concerns about National’s destructive and undemocratic Fast-Track Approvals Bill. Add your voice and tell National why this legislation needs to be stopped in its tracks.
What are the problems with this Bill?
- It works against nature: the Bill is designed to override environmental protection in favour of short-term profit.
- The Bill fails to mention the environment in the purpose clause, and it overrides our existing environmental laws.
- It can approve projects that destroy native animals and their homes such as coal mining in kiwi habitat. Once these species are gone, we cannot get them back.
- Communities, including iwi and hapū, may not have adequate input into some of the developments that will affect them.
- The Bill revives projects that have previously been declined for being too destructive or risky to the environment.
“The National Government is making a choice to prioritise short-term, environmentally damaging projects like coal mines without proper input from the communities they will affect long-term,” says Labour Environment Spokesperson Rachel Brooking.
"National's bill is fundamentally different from Labour's fast track consenting process because the purpose is only about development, it fails to mention the environment in the purpose clause, and it overrides our existing environmental laws."
“This is about choices – the Government can listen to the thousands of submissions that are overwhelmingly against this Bill, or it can continue to push through a piece of legislation that will impact communities and damage nature for generations to come.”
In Government, Labour proved we can look after our environment, while progressing with projects that benefit our communities. We sped up approvals and reduced the cost of consenting for projects like school buildings, housing and clean energy initiatives. These projects were approved by independent panels and worked with nature, rather than against it.
National’s first Budget also revealed over $3 billion of cuts to projects that reduced our climate polluting emissions. This includes canning work on adapting to our changing climate, cutting work on habitat restoration and pest control initiated by Jobs for Nature, reducing key climate research, hundreds of job losses at the Ministry for the Environment, and defunding community projects and advocacy.
Add your voice: Email Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and key ministers to share why this legislation needs to be stopped in its tracks.
A suggested email is below, but feel free to add why you're concerned for your area or community. Share this page with friends and family – you can also click here to download a poster to print and share. Together, we can stop the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Read more:
- Fast track list reveals Govt’s backroom deals
-
Environment ministry advice show flaws in Fast Track Approvals Bill
- Thousands stand up for democracy and nature
- Environment cuts show govt’s disregard for future generations
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