Hon Roger Sowry National Transport Spokesperson

10 October 2002

Pressure mounts on Cullen over Air NZ

How much longer is Michael Cullen going to keep New Zealander's in the dark over the Air New Zealand/Qantas deal asks National's Transport spokesperson Roger Sowry?

"We know the Minister has already briefed Peter Dunne on the deal but publicly is disavowing all knowledge of anything even being in the air.

"Dr Cullen as shareholding Minister owns 82% of the airline, it is just not credible for him to claim that he knows nothing.

"If what he is saying is true that he doesn't know, then as the majority shareholder why can't he provide the answers?

" New Zealanders have a right to know if the Qantas deal is as close as what is being reported by the media both here and across the Tasman .It is going to inevitably mean higher prices and will consign Air New Zealand to be just being a marginalised regional airline," says Mr Sowry.

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