Government should steer clear of Tranz Rail

The National Party says the Government’s again showing its incompetence with complicated business transactions as it wrestles with the deal to buy the tracks from Tranz Rail.

“We saw the Government put their foot in it when Air New Zealand came to them cap in hand last year, it seems they’ve learned nothing,” according to the National Party’s Transport spokesman Roger Sowry.

“Reports of a Government deal to buy the tracks have pushed up Tranz Rail share prices, it’s a carbon copy of what happened with Air New Zealand,” he says.

“You’d think the Government may have learned from its mistakes, but it’s clear that it hasn’t.

“Transport Minister Paul Swain’s said last week a buy back of the rail network was on the agenda, now the Prime Minister’s saying it’s not,” says Mr Sowry.

“Well, the National Party is calling for this confusion to end, allowing Tranz Rail to get on with the business of finding a private investor so it can repair its lines.

“Tranz Rail is a stand-alone business and the Government has no place operating in that environment,” Mr Sowry concludes.

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