Jim's Feeble Face-Saving Idea For Rising Petrol Prices

Jim Anderton's idea of benchmarking petrol prices is an admission that his campaign to lower petrol prices has been a spectacular failure, National's Industry and Regional Development spokesperson John Luxton said today.

"Jim Anderton has created a rod for his own back by leaping around earlier this year proclaiming himself as the Minister of Lower Petrol Prices.

"It was just meaningless rhetoric.

"There are big question-marks over benchmarking of petrol prices.

"Will it end up in the Government determining petrol compäny margins? Will petrol companies be forced to hand over confidential information? It was dumped in Australia because it wasn't workable.

"His benchmarking idea is just that - an idea that has been referred to other Ministers. He doesn't even have any ability or power to make it happen.

"Jim Anderton's credibility has been shot because he has done nothing except complain about petrol prices. Complaining won't help regional economies cope with higher costs."

Ends

© Scoop Media