Goff tells Aussie bankers to keep their hands off our assets

Phil

GOFF

Labour Leader

14 November 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT

Goff tells Aussie bankers to keep their hands off our assets

Labour Leader Phil Goff has told the Australian investment bankers National has hired to sell our assets that their contract will be cancelled immediately when he becomes Prime Minister.

Phil Goff has written to Melbourne-based Lazard managing director John Wylie. See attached letter.

“My message to these Australian bankers is simple – hands off our assets,” Phil Goff said.

“These assets – Mighty River Power, Meridian Energy, Genesis Energy, Solid Energy and Air New Zealand – perform exceptionally well in the interest of all New Zealanders. They return hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue to the taxpayer every year. If John Key is allowed to sell them they will be gone forever and New Zealand will be poorer.

“They are ours, we already own them.

“We don’t want them sold and we don’t want Australian bankers pocketing $100m as they clip the ticket during the sale.

“Labour is determined to stop the sale of our assets

“My first action as Prime Minister will be to cancel the sale process that the National Government has already started despite John Key promising that they would get a mandate from the New Zealand people first.

“There is no need to sell our assets. Labour’s plan for a fairer tax system pays off New Zealand’s debt, provides tax cuts for most New Zealanders and allows us to keep our assets,” Phil Goff said.