Immediate Release: Thursday January 15, 2004
ACT Rejects Greens’ Backward Cabotage Call
ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington today rejected Green Party Co-leader Rod Donald's backward call
for the reintroduction of cabotage, predicting that it would have a devastating effect on small to medium-sized
business.
"Further, cabotage – the protectionist practice of allowing only local crews, working on New Zealand operated ships, to
monopolise domestic shipping – would increase the living costs of New Zealand families,” Miss Coddington said.
"Without foreign competition, the cost of transporting goods from port to port would inevitably increase production
costs. These additional costs would be passed on to the consumer, and reduce the bottom line profits of local business,
resulting in job losses.
"Mr Donald must stand up for working families, and the wealth creators in this country - the people who create jobs and
who have a positive effect on the economy, rather than pandering to the Maritime Union and its antiquated views," Miss
Coddington said.
ENDS