Firstly, we are pleased that the government has chosen to convene a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Pike River is our worst tragedy in terms of loss of life since the Erebus disaster in 1979. That the government has ordered the highest level of inquiry available to it is both heartening and wholly appropriate.
Secondly, the Terms of Reference seem wide-ranging, and importantly, include the question culpability by this government and its predecessor - the Herald reports:
Present and past government ministers are likely to come under scrutiny from the royal commission of inquiry into the Pike River mine tragedy.
Cabinet yesterday approved the setting up of the royal commission - the highest level inquiry the Government can order - into the incident that claimed 29 lives since the initial explosion on November 19.
Prime Minister John Key said the terms of reference were broad enough to include any ministerial responsibility - in his Cabinet or previous ones - for the incident.
Other important questions will be canvassed, including the mine's safety practices and whether they were properly monitored, and what mine managers knew about levels of dangerous gases in the mine at the time the 29 miners entered the mine.
The inquiry will also look at whether the industry was properly resourced - including an examination of whether two national mine safety inspectors are enough - and whether safety was compromised by environmental or conservation concerns.
With 2011 being an election year, this Royal Commission could become a political hot potato. However finding out what happened and why is far more important than any politcal considerations. It is pleasing that the government has not exempted itself or the former Labour government from scrutiny, and from the possibility of an adverse finding. This will, in our opinion, give the Royal Commission a much better framework to determine what REALLY happened at Pike River. That is crucially important, and should be the paramount objective of the Royal Commission.
Lastly, we reckon that in appointing Justice Graham Pankhurst to head the Royal Commission, Cabinet has made an inspired choice. Justice Pankhurst is one of New Zealand's most experienced judges, and is highly respected in legal circles. More importantly, he has strong links to the West Coast, having served seven years as the region's Crown Solicitor. He will know the West Coast psyche well. He is the ideal man for this role.
There has been no date set yet for the Royal Commission to begin its work, not for the appointment of two other commissioners. It will be a long process, but one we hope from which the truth will emerge, however unpalatable that truth may ultimately prove to be.
8 comments:
I2, I am more interested in the facts of the event rather than the truth.
The word truth is over used in the context of Pike River as it's use suggests that there has been an attempt to cover things up by the company and the authorities.
Also I dislike the word truth for the simple reason that the "truth" is different things to different people.
The soviet state paper was called "Pravda" which is Russian for "truth"
Fair comment Alex.
Judge Pankhurst was born a brought up in Reefton- a true west coaster. Outstanding choice. He was judge in the last Bain case and had to put up with huge crap from Bain's lawyer
Cheers for that Anon - I did hear that somewhere, but couldn't verify it. That he has the Coast in his DNA makes him an even more inspired choice. I suspect that he will also have a finely-tuned bullshit detector, which will serve him well.
Agreed on Justice Pankhurst.
I met him when he was at the bar.
Good bloke and now a top Judge who regularly sits on the Court of Appeal.
As you say I2 his bs detector will be very sensitive.
@ Alex; at the bar, or at the Bar? A moot point perhaps ...
Key originally said that the enquiry would be of the Commission variety and that there was no need for a Royal Commission as they are essentially the same.
Changed his mind it seems.
anon (anon)
Quite right Anon; Key's initial response was to establish a Commission of Inquiry, which would have had the same powers as a Royal Commission, but would have been perceived as having less clout. I am personally pleased that he has had a change of heart. I can't recall whether his inital indication pre or post-dated the second explosion at the mine, when the loss of life was officially confirmed. Whichever, he and Cabinet have made the right decision IMHO.
As I said in the main post, it is also commendable that the government has left itself open to an adverse conclusion by the Royal Commission; if the government of its predecessor erred in any way, that needs to be public knowledge.
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