Monday, December 22, 2008



"Balancing the economy and the environment"

During the election campaign, National promised repeatedly that it would "balance the economy and the environment". Where does that "balance" lie in practice? Here's an example: as one of his first acts in office, Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley raised the quota of sea lions (a threatened species whose population is in decline) allowed to be killed by squid boats by 40% - despite the scientific assessment showing it should be halved.

Some "balance".