Minister of Tourism: where the bloody hell are you?

It is fiscally reckless for the Government to fossick about with Schedule 4 mining without taking any advice on how this would affect tourism, our second largest export earner, the Green Party said today.

“John Key confirmed today that he has sought no advice regarding the impact of mining proposals on our second largest industry,” Metiria Turei, the Green Party Co-leader said.

The Government has confirmed its intention to mine a National Park and other Schedule 4 protected areas for gold, coal and other metals. It will also subsidise further prospecting on protected land.

“We now have a whole-of-government approach to mining. The Minister of Conservation isn’t looking after the conservation estate and the Minister for Tourism isn’t looking after the tourism industry, Mrs Turei said.

“Gold fever has struck down our Government.

“The Prime Minister has gone so far as to say he will mine Schedule 4, notwithstanding public consultation.

“He is willing to put the $21 billion dollar a year tourism industry at risk without any advice, based on a back of the envelope estimate from the mining industry.

“It’s time for an intervention, perhaps from the Minister for Gambling,” Mrs Turei said.