02 July
Today is a dark day for democracy in
Aotearoa New Zealand.
Today this Government has told
New Zealanders that if powerful corporations damage your
future through climate pollution, your right to seek justice
can simply be taken away.
Seven years ago I took Smith
v Fonterra to the courts because successive governments were
failing to hold major polluters accountable. I went to court
because no company should be above the law and no government
should be allowed to close the courthouse doors on ordinary
people.
But over the past month New Zealanders have
seen how power really works. We have seen corporate lobbying
happen behind closed doors. We have watched major polluters
lean on politicians to protect their interests. And now this
Government has delivered exactly what those corporations
wanted.
Fonterra, Z Energy, Genesis Energy, BT Mining,
Dairy Holdings and NZ Steel have effectively been handed a
political shield from accountability.
Let’s call this
what it is: this is corporate protection
legislation.
Climate harm is not some distant future
threat. It is already here. It is beating on our roofs
during storms. It is flooding homes. It is washing away
land. It is forcing communities to bear the costs while some
of the country’s biggest polluters continue to
profit.
And while families worry about insurance,
damaged homes and rising costs, this Government has decided
that the people needing protection are large
corporations.
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That is
outrageous.
Giant corporations do not need
more protection. The people of New Zealand do.This
Government is not defending the public interest. It is
defending powerful interests.
They are
attempting to write corporate immunity into law. They are
attempting to put major polluters beyond accountability.
They are attempting to silence one case because they fear
what could come after it.
But this fight has never
been about me. This fight has always been about whether
ordinary people still have the right to seek justice when
governments fail and corporations cause harm.
I
believe New Zealanders can see exactly what is happening
here.
I believe they will see this for what it is —
a betrayal of the public good.
And I say to everyone
who has supported this case: now is not the time to step
back. Now is the time to stand up.
Stand up for
justice.
Stand up for accountability.
And stand
up for
change.
