PM must ensure Pike River fronts up

Pike River has an obligation to front up to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the terrible tragedy that took the lives of 29 miners and the Prime Minister should ensure that happens, says West Coast Labour MP Damien O’Connor.

“Pike River should not be looking to taxpayers’ to fund its involvement in the inquiry. It should use its reserves to pay its own way. But at the end of the day, the Prime Minister must find a way to ensure the company fully co-operates with the Inquiry.

“John Key has made many promises to the families of the 29 miners who died, to the Grey community and those people still involved in underground mining. I trust he can deliver on his assurance that the Royal Commission would deliver all the answers regarding this terrible tragedy.

‘It should not be left to the families, the union and the community to demand the company front up with the detail required by the Commissioners.

“The Inquiry is supposed to provide the families and community with answers and to help us all learn from this tragedy so that it never happens again. The absence of crucial information from the company could make a mockery of the whole process.

“The last thing we want is a discredited Royal Commission because information is withheld or inadequate,” said Damien O’Connor.