Lots of Hype, not enough action

The lack of action on recovery for Christchurch from last September’s earthquake matches the National Government’s lack of action on economic growth, jobs and the cost of living, Wigram MP Jim Anderton told parliament today in debate over the Prime Minister’s Statement.

He warned that the National Party’s planned asset sales would not create any jobs, but would send more profits overseas.

“Does this look like the road to recovery? Five months after the earthquake every business on the opposite side of the road from my electorate office has left their premises. Nothing has changed or been done since September 4,” Jim Anderton said.

“Fast Forward to New Zealand’s economic recovery: After more than two years of his government, economic growth has stopped. Unemployment is going up, not down. Jobs are being lost not created, the cost of living is increasing but incomes aren’t.

“What is the prime minister’s strategy to tackle those problems? He doesn’t have one.”

Jim Anderton said asset sales are not an economic policy.

“It is a surrender of the sovereignty of New Zealand. Not one job will be created by selling off the people’s power companies. But every one of us will be paying higher power bills to overseas owners. And that will mean our overseas debt will get worse.

“Every time we turn on a light, the overseas owners will harvest a profit. Every time a business starts a machine, the overseas owners will get a cheque from us. A river in New Zealand, dammed by New Zealand for generations, supplies power along a transmission network built and maintained by New Zealanders, to a household in New Zealand. And somehow, someone in another country will clip the ticket on that transaction. That is what privatisation means.

“Mr Key says the assets will be kept in New Zealand hands. But that is what they said about Contact Energy. The Bank of New Zealand, Postbank, Air New Zealand, NZ Rail and practically every strategic asset which was privatised - who owns them now? Apart from those the last Labour-led Government bought back, they are mainly held in Australia,” Jim Anderton said.

ends

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