National's appalling ineffectiveness

It has taken the National party seven days to make a comment on forestry issues, and its sole contribution is to call for more commodity exports at the expense of value in the wood industry, Progressive Leader and Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton says.

A statement from Brian Connell, who claims to be a National MP, was released this morning, and Jim Anderton says it deserves attention.

"No one has ever heard of Brian Connell. Why is he putting out statements? If he does have something to say, why has it taken him a week? What has the National Party been doing for a week?

"The statement shows the National party wants to take New Zealand back to the past. Instead of adding skills value and jobs to the wood industry, National wants to simply export raw logs.

"The National Party is becoming more like Act every day. It is backward and anti-business ­ the only business that national ever praises are asset strippers. Value adding businesses seem to be the enemy to National," Jim Anderton said.

Jim Anderton warned that United and NZ First continue to say they could form a coalition with a Don Brash-led National party.

"These back-to-the past statements are an example of the retro-policies United and NZ First would be committing themselves to," Jim Anderton said.

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