Post Cabinet Press Conference on SERCO review and Auckland Housing
Prime Minister John Key discussed Auckland house prices and a possible review of the governments contract with SERCO at
his post-cabinet press conference this afternoon.
Key said there is currently a bill in the house, which proposes gathering information on non-resident taxpayers’.
He said this bill would provide information on the numbers of people overseas who own property in New Zealand.
Key raised concerns over the accuracy of data in the UK and Australia because of the number of New Zealanders living
there, as opposed to somewhere like China where there is a smaller proportion.
When questioned whether the government would place a ban on foreign ownership; Key said that this policy had not worked
for Australia or in other countries.
The Labour Party received a lot of flak for publishing leaked statistics from Barfoot and Thompson over the weekend.
Labour then deduced people with Asian sounding last names owned 30% of Auckland property.
Key conceded that IF this statistic were real then he would find it concerning.
SERCO:
SERCO the company that is outsourced to run Mt. Eden prison will be put under review over videos surfaced shwoing fight
clubs and drug use within the prison.
“We will need to look at whether they have breached their contract,” Key said.
“I am concerned about it because we have a duty of care, to make sure people are safe in prisons.”
Key also said he was advised last night by the ministers office that there may have been an earlier report about the
incident.
Amanda Bailey:
Key said he would not comment on Amanda Bailey’s decision to drop legal action against him regarding “the ponytail
incident.”
Graham McCready's private prosecution is however still proceeding.
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MP3 format or in OGG format.
ENDS