New Zealand abandons Jacinda Ardern's ban on oil and gas drilling after she declared that the world had moved on from fossil fuels

New Zealand has done away with its net zero policy by overturning an oil and gas drilling ban in a shock move many hope Australia will replicate.

The New Zealand government unveiled the plans in its latest budget, which was delivered earlier this week and provided for a $200m investment in new offshore gas fields.

This decision reverses a 2018 ban on new offshore oil exploration permits introduced by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who had promoted it as part of her plan for a carbon-neutral future.

Ardern's 2018 decision came despite New Zealand discovering billions of cubic metres of natural gas offshore.

'The world has moved on from fossil fuels,' Ardern proclaimed at the time.

New Zealand's energy minister, Shane Jones, said Ardern's ban had been a disaster.

'We are feeling the pain of constrained supply. The government is not prepared to sit on the sidelines and watch our industrial and manufacturing dwindle because of energy security concerns,' he said.

'We are focused on growing the New Zealand economy, creating jobs and increasing prosperity and resilience. Natural gas will continue to be critical in delivering secure and affordable energy for New Zealanders for at least the next 20 years.'

New Zealand has done away with its net zero mission by overturning a ban on drilling for oil and gas first instituted by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured)

Australian Nationals Senator Matt Canavan (pictured) has embraced New Zealand's move to abandon net zero, urging Australia to follow suit: 'Why do we remain committed to this madness?'

Nationals senator Matt Canavan took to social media on Friday to question why Australia has not yet done away with its own plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

'New Zealand just dropped net zero,' he wrote in a post to social media.

'Why do we remain committed to this madness?'

Canavan, who mounted an unsuccessful challenge to topple David Littleproud for the National Party's top post earlier this month, told Sky News on Sunday he hoped to convince his party to abandon its support for net zero.

'I didn't really run to become leader, I ran to end our ridiculous support of this crazy idea of net zero,' he said.

'Now, obviously, that fight continues; I haven't quite got there yet, but I had good conversations with my colleagues about that.

'I'm sure there will be a reflection on that policy at some point while we're in Opposition here.'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14749293/New-Zealand-abandons-Jacinda-Arderns-ban-oil-gas-drilling-declared-world-moved-fossil-fuels.html

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