Law change ‘muzzles’ public on oil drilling

The public will be shut out of official decisions on deep-sea oil and gas exploration from today.

A law change comes into effect that will see applications by oil giants go through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They will now be ‘‘nonnotified’’, preventing members of the public from lodging a formal protest.

Environment Minister Amy Adams said the new classification was a ‘‘pragmatic option’’ for exploratory drilling.

She believes new regulations governing the extraction industry provide environmental protection without burdensome costs and long delays.

However, the Green Party says the Government is muzzling the public. ‘‘The Government legislated to stop people voicing their opposition at sea, and now they are locking them out on land,’’ energy spokesman Gareth Hughes said.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Steve Abel branded it a ‘‘cowardly move’’, and accused the Government of ‘‘doing the bidding’’ of foreign oil companies.

‘‘It strips away the chance for New Zealanders to protest about the most dangerous stage of oil drilling,’’ he said.

The change was introduced by way of a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) which meant it did not go through a parliamentary select committee.

The move followed the controversial ‘‘Anadarko Amendment’’, which banned protesting at sea. Labour Minister Simon Bridges was criticised for introducing it as an SOP, also avoiding select committee scrutiny, and for kowtowing to oil companies.

If an oil company strikes oil, they must apply for a new marine consent for production. At this stage, the public are allowed to make submissions on the proposed activities.

Texan oil giant Anadarko is currently test-drilling off the coast of Oamaru, after a recent expedition off Raglan failed to yield any results.