Oil drilling: ‘everything’ on table
The Labour-led Government is considering ‘‘everything’’ about the future of the oil and gas exploration in New Zealand, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denying any inconsistency in her statements.
On Monday, Ardern told a Greenpeace rally on the steps of Parliament that her Government was ‘‘actively considering’’ a call to end oil exploration.
But later on Monday she said the issue was one which Governments considered annually: administration of the annual block offer process, which markets exploration areas to the oil and gas industry.
Ardern yesterday disputed a report suggesting she was backtracking on her earlier statements.
‘‘What is the difference between considering the future of oil and gas exploration and considering oil and gas permits for the next year? It’s exactly the same thing ...
‘‘Considering block offers, you’re considering the future of oil and gas exploration. That is how people access oil and gas exploration.’’
National leader Simon Bridges has speculated that the Government may simply be considering the way it offers new space to the industry. But the suggestion drew a testy response from Ardern.
‘‘When have we ever said that we would do that, ever. We have never, ever talked about that. We’ve never said that, suggested that, campaigned on that.
‘‘We’re considering future block offers, that means considering the way we manage gas and oil exploration in New Zealand in the future.’’
Asked if the Government was then considering a permanent ban on any new exploration space, Ardern said ‘‘everything’’ was being considered.
‘‘We haven’t made a call, we’re weighing up environmental and economic impacts and the issue of a just transition. AmI ready to announce anything? No, which is why I haven’t.’’
During the Greenpeace rally Ardern never once mentioned what was under consideration or used the words block offer. Asked afterwards what she was ‘‘actively considering’’, Ardern declined to comment.
Yesterday Bridges said there was ‘‘a world of difference between changes to block offer, even getting rid of it, and ending all new oil and gas exploration’’.
Bridges said Ardern’s moves, if they were to happen, would cost jobs.
‘‘Words really matter. This is a multibillion-dollar sector that contributes hugely in terms of jobs in our regions, not a political play thing for the Prime Minister to get her out of a hole.’’