The head of the petroleum association is unsurprised at an attempt to sue the Government over its plan to ban future oil exploration.

Mark Dunphy from Greymouth Petroleum has started court action against Energy Minister Megan Woods.

Petroleum Exploration and Production Association chief executive Cameron Madgwick told Kate Hawkesby the Government's decision was inconsistent with the law as it stood.

"That's why they're changing the law so if somebody wants to take legal action to challenge that, good on them."

He says it is actually worse than that because the Government is trying to change the law much more quickly than normal.

"They have asked for the select committee to report back in just under a month. I mean that gives almost no time for the affected workers, communities, families in Taranaki to have their say, it is boarding on undemocratic.

LISTEN ABOVE AS CAMERON MADGWICK SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY