Now, ACT supports the concept of "polluter pays" and that operators should take responsibility for decommissioning their oil and gas assets at the end of their life. We support making it a statutory obligation where previously there was no obligation. We can also support the ability of the Crown to assess the financial capability of petroleum permit holders to undertake their obligations. But what the ACT Party can never support is a trailing or perpetual liability on directors of companies who have undertaken and fulfilled their duties according to the law, to environmental best practice, who have met their social and economic obligations to communities and shareholders alike but would find that in years following their association with a business that may have been successful, they are held criminally liable for decisions taken by officers of the business in operational roles quite remote from the governance role that they held as directors. ACT cannot support that. It is chilling, destructive, and will have a very negative impact on any business intention to invest in New Zealand. It will result in the hollowing out of investment in quality businesses and a reduction in the quality of people who are prepared to stand up and become directors of companies.