The Government has met its moral obligation to take all the steps recommended by the royal commission on the tragedy to ensure that these tragic events do not occur again, he said.
"But finally the Government has to act on behalf of all New Zealanders. Every New Zealander who suffers a tragedy deserves equal treatment."
Under further questions from Mr Cunliffe, Mr English confirmed that fund managers at ACC and the Superannuation Fund were shareholders of New Zealand Oil and Gas, a large shareholder of Pike River Coal, and had voted against paying compensation to the Pike River families.
"That motion, if carried, would have seen New Zealand Oil and Gas, a 29 per cent shareholder in Pike River Coal, pay out on behalf of the other 71 per cent."
An order for $3.41 million in reparation to the victims' families and two survivors was made in July by Judge Jane Farish who convicted Pike River Coal on health and safety charges. The company is now in receivership.
New Zealand Oil and Gas has already paid $25 million since the disaster for salaries, creditors and tunnel recovery. A resolution at its annual meeting in October to pay more was lost.
Mr Cunliffe said National ignored the culpability of the mining regulator at the time, the Department of Labour.
The Cabinet had limited its discussion to narrow legal precedent instead of issues of morality, he said.