Opposition Parties Flex Their Muscles Over TVNZ Inquiry

Rodney Hide Wednesday, 16 November 2005 Press Releases - Broadcasting

ACT Leader Rodney Hide said today that the decision by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee to inquire into TVNZ was significant for two reasons.

"The first is that the Labour Government doesn't control the select committees, as it did in the previous Parliament.

"The last thing that Labour wanted was an inquiry into how their public charter for TVNZ has destroyed this once-good organisation.

"The problem was the Labour Government doesn't command the numbers on the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee. In my first week back in parliament I have achieved a major inquiry on behalf of the public of New Zealand.

"The second reason is that the inquiry itself is important. TVNZ is demoralised and directionless. It's losing viewers, income and value.

"The Labour Government has shown itself at best indifferent to TVNZ's plight. They know full well it's of their making. The inquiry will be important to find out just what's going on at TVNZ, and what's being done to address the problem.

"It's my view that TVNZ should be privatised - that's the way to stop politicians fiddling with it.

"To the extent that Government wants public charter TV, it should be funded through New Zealand On Air between TV3 and a privatised TVNZ," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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