Paul Goldsmith - Economic and Regional Development
24 January 2019
Reports that Westland Milk is talking to well-financed potential bidders for the company raise serious questions about
the $9.9 million soft loan from Shane Jones’ Regional Slush Fund, National’s Economic and Regional Development
spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says.
“The confidential talks reportedly include Canadian dairy giant Saputo, which rivals Fonterra in scale and has already
made significant dairy acquisitions in Australia.
“New Zealand has always relied on overseas capital but what does it mean for Mr Jones’ taxpayer-funded, subsidised loan
if it was to go to an overseas company? The Government has refused to release details of the favourable loan to the
struggling dairy group or whether it has even been made.
“Did Shane Jones know Westland Milk was going to seek more capital overseas when he announced the loan as part of the
Provincial Growth Fund’s package for the West Coast? Or was he distracted by the pork barrel benefits of distributing
funds with little oversight?
“The refusal by the Government and its officials to reveal the size of the hidden subsidy in the cheap loan to Westland
Milk makes a mockery of its claim to be the most open and transparent Government. It is not acceptable for the
Government to hide this information.
“Officials were happy to rattle off a list of benefits from the loan, but they didn’t include making it more attractive
to overseas buyers.”
ends