Press Release
Blind Ideology Costs Taxpayers Nearly Another $1 Billion
Rodney Hide MP
Wednesday, May 28 2008
ACT Leader Rodney Hide today accused Finance Minister Dr Michael Cullen of allowing his blind commitment to State
ownership to cost Kiwi taxpayers the thick end of another billion dollars.
"The New Zealand Herald's Fran O'Sullivan has revealed that, had he followed advice last year and sold down the
Government's stake in Air New Zealand to 51 percent, Dr Cullen would have realised $840 million," Mr Hide said.
"But the Minister's blind ideological commitment to State ownership meant he refused to sell, and the value of the
Government's stake in Air New Zealand has since dropped from $2,500 million to less than a billion.
"That's a loss of $1.5 billion on paper and a real billion if Cullen had sold on advice yet kept control as he maintains
he needs.
"All around the world, taxpayers and consumers are revelling in the benefits of privatisation the only exceptions are
North Korea, Cuba, Burma and New Zealand under either Labour or National.
"It's time politicians looked past politics and ideology and put the interests of taxpayers and consumers first. The
country simply can't afford such political indulgence," Mr Hide said.
ENDS