Dunne – 1080 operations too ‘inhouse’
23 July 2008

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says his party remains unmoved in its opposition to aerial 1080 despite the Department of Conservation’s latest attempt at assuring the public otherwise.

“What DoC, regional councils and the Animal Health Board fail to understand is that the public of New Zealand will never trust assertions over the effectiveness of aerial 1080 while the whole regime remains so ‘inhouse’,” said Mr Dunne.

“DoC, regional councils, the AHB, and their contractors are carrying out poisoning operations with little to no public accountability.

“Assurances over the appropriateness of aerial 1080 operations seem extremely shallow when those that assess and collect the data prior to, and after each operation are also the contractors tasked with carrying out that operation in the first place.

“It is crazy that those whose commercial interests lie in the persistence of the status quo are the same people left to assess the effectiveness and future viability of Government policy regarding 1080.

“I know no other publicly funded industry in New Zealand that has such a blatant disregard for community transparency.

“DoC, the AHB and the poison contractors should therefore not act surprised that public perception has turned against them.

“If DoC and the AHB truly wish to convince the public of the long term sustainability of aerial 1080 operations they should open up the tendering and assessment processes to far greater public scrutiny.

“Doubt over the honesty and integrity of those involved in using 1080 will continue to grow as long as the Government does nothing to promote greater openness within the industry,” said Mr Dunne.

Ends

Contact: Ted Sheehan
021 638 920