Billy Brown calls criticism activism, but what about the facts behind the closure of Marsden Point?

OPINION: Billy Brown can call criticism “activism” if he wants, but that does not answer the factual challenge to his claims about the closure of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery. On that point, he is wrong.

The issue is much simpler than the labels thrown around like confetti.

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Image: The documented ownership record points in another direction. Marsden Point was operated by the publicly listed Refining NZ, which became Channel Infrastructure when the site moved to import-terminal operations in April 2022. A Treasury OIA response later confirmed the refinery was not owned or operated by the Government and that the Crown held no shares in it at or around the time of its closure. (File. / Supplied / Facebook / Billy Brown)

Was Brown’s claim about the closure of Marsden Point accurate, and does the available evidence support the version of events he presented?

That is the question that matters here.

The debate should be about what actually happened, who made the decisions, what role the Government did or did not play, and whether Brown’s account fairly reflects those facts.

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Calling any type of challenge a form of activism does not settle any question.

Image: NZ First candidate Billy Brown used a Facebook post to accuse thisquality of activism while defending claims linking Labour to Marsden Point’s shutdown, despite Refining NZ’s board and shareholders making the commercial decision to transition the refinery into an import terminal. (Supplied / Billy Brown / Facebook)

People can disagree with criticism and challenge evidence behind it, but throwing around labels is only a convenient way to avoid addressing the substance of what was actually challenged.

And let’s be honest about the Marsden Point argument.

This isn’t about defending Labour. I am no big fan.

But there is a difference between saying Labour should have intervened to protect New Zealand’s fuel security and saying Labour closed Marsden Point.

Those aren’t the same claims and anyone smart enough would notice.

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Image: Decommissioned oil refinery at Marsden Point, New Zealand. View from One Tree Point. The refinery operated from 1964 to 2022. (synthetick / Adobe Stock)

Marsden Point was privately owned, and the decision to move away from refining was made by Refining NZ and its shareholders.

There is a legitimate political debate about whether the Government should have done more. Have that debate. Argue it passionately.

Using the very real pain New Zealanders are feeling at the petrol pump to create a political villain is something we should all be willing to question, regardless of which party is being targeted.

If challenging a politician’s version of events is activism then what do we call a politician deliberately reducing a complicated issue to a politically useful talking point?

Politics? Advocacy? Campaigning?

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Perhaps the same standard of evidence should apply in both directions.

Image: New Zealand First's Rotorua candidate Billy Brown continues to spread the false claim that Labour approved the closure of Marsden Point Oil Refinery. It is matter of fact the refinery’s closure was a commercial decision by Refining NZ but Brown has continued to repeat the claim in authorised campaign material and on social media. (Courtesy of The Good Oil Podcast)

Don’t attack the one challenging the claim. Answer the claim with evidence.

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