Increase in appeal cost a barrier to justice - Greens
Proposed changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) will create a barrier for regular New Zealanders wanting to appeal developments, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says.
The proposed increase in the cost of lodging an appeal -- from $50 to $500 -- would limit access to justice, he said.
"Let's make certain everyone gets a say in what happens to their own backyard."
Dr Norman asked Justice Minister Simon Power about the barrier to justice in Parliament this morning.
Access to justice was "important for all, none more so than the less privileged in society", Mr Power said.
Mr Power said he was not responsible for the planned RMA amendments, but his ministry was consulted and had been satisfied that the "issues around access to justice have been addressed".
Costs in regards to access to justice have to be "measured carefully", he said.
"I am satisfied that those issues of access to the Environment Court...(are) sufficient, as is the advice that has been put into issues around the new RMA legislation to ensure access to justice issues have been addressed."
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Comments and questions3
I wish the Aussie would pick up his commie apple cart and go and sort out the tree huggers who stopped the felling of trees in Victoria,thus making fodder for the devastating fires .A SHAME ON THE LOOPY GREENS.
Lets get real here.
If a community really cares about an issue, they will form a group of concerned citizens and raise the money between them!
Honestly, $500 dollars is nothing, and more importantly, it prevents people from lodging rediculous appeals at little to no cost to themselves. Everybody out there must know of a local busy body that lodges appeals against everything in their area because they can!
Aussie Norman should go back to Australia and observe the damage and grief that his 'greenie policies' have caused the people of Victoria. Sometime spent among the ruins, and among the distressed people may enlighten him as to the folly of 'save all the trees' policies.
He should take all his commie green party collegues with him; if they are quick they may get a free seat on teh RNZAF B757 leaving Whenuapai today.
lAst nights TV showed a family whose home escaped teh fire, simply because they had sensibly taken responsible steps to prevent forest fire damage; and the lunatic government has previously prosecuted them.
No doubt the State government will now refund the fine with interest, pay personal damages and issue a public apology, as the family were obviously quite correct in their actions.
Current policies re teh Waitakeries and other areas in NZ leave us wide open to the same disaster potential - take note Gary of environmental fame.
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