Labour leader Andrew Little proposes health and safety exemption for Solid Energy

Andrew Little and West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor talk to Bernie Monk at the Pike River picket this morning. Photo / Greymouth Star

Labour leader Andrew Little has a new proposal to re-enter the Pike River coal mine which involves exempting Solid Energy from health and safety laws.

Little said today he would table a bill in Parliament on the first sitting day in February which would assist the families in their bid to access the West Coast coal mine's drift.

Prime Minister Bill English has said health and safety laws which were introduced in response to the Pike River disaster in 2010 make any re-entry all but impossible.

During a visit to Greymouth today, Little said he had a solution.

"We can actually deal with that threat of liability for the [Solid Energy] directors by legislating to prevent that happening in this particular case.

"What I pledged to the families is that on the first day of Parliament I will seek leave to table a bill that does just that."

He added: "It removes any risk of liability for the directors of Solid Energy in relation to any attempt at re-entry for the purpose of recovering remains or any bodies in the drift leading to the mine.

"And I'm working on that bill now, I'll have that ready to go on the 6th of February."

The Pike River families commissioned a report from international mining experts last year which concluded that a safe re-entry was possible. They say re-entering the 2.3km drift could not only allow recovery of any remains but provide more evidence about the cause of the disaster.

The mine has been closed since November 2010 after a gas explosion killed 29 workers.

Speaking in Parliament last year, English said Pike River was the "most dangerous workplace in New Zealand", and approving a re-entry would go against the very health and safety laws passed by Parliament in response to the disaster.

English said Little himself had lobbied for the safety changes.

"The member should understand the legislation which he advocated for, which brings together judgement about safety and legal responsibility for anyone in that workplace," he said.

"So whatever any independent expert says, someone who is responsible for anyone who might go into that mine are legally responsibly for their lives."

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has also committed to re-entering the mine, saying it will be a condition of any coalition negotiations after the election.

A former miner, Peters has even promised to go into the mine himself, saying he was "offering to be on the first party back in."