15 August 2005

Alliance says Vector selloff bad news for consumers

The Alliance Party has described the continued selloff of New Zealand electricity as a disaster for consumers and the environment.

Electricity lines company Vector partially listed on the stock exchange on Monday 15 August, but most New Zealanders have no say over their basic right to affordable power.

"The Alliance is the only party that stands for complete public ownership and democratic community control of power," says Alliance co-leader Jill Ovens.

"Even though the recent sale is for 24.9% of Vector, the company will now operate to maximize the private profit of shareholders rather than for the public good."

The Alliance says the move is part of the ongoing process that has seen prices skyrocket for ordinary consumers throughout New Zealand as well as environmental shockers such as the canned Project Aqua.

Ms Ovens stood for Auckland Energy Consumer Trust in 2003 on an anti-privatization platform of 100% public ownership of power on the PowerLynk ticket which included Alliance, Labour and Greens.

"Now that the Greens have done a cosy deal with Labour, the only party who can be guaranteed to offer an independent voice for working people is the Alliance."

Ms Ovens says a central platform of the Alliance Party is a comprehensive energy strategy that includes 100% public control of power, planned energy generation that takes into account the environment, and a goal of affordable power so no New Zealanders go cold and hungry.

"The corporate games will be stopped and the people will take back the power with an Alliance Government," says Ms Ovens.

The Alliance Party were part of the New Zealand Government from 1999 to 2002, bringing in the Kiwibank and paid parental leave.

ENDS

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