28 September 2001

Taxpayers are headed for a bill of hundreds of millions of dollars more to bail out Air New Zealand, National's Finance spokesperson Bill English said today.

"Helen Clark's week of blundering appears to have finally given the Government a sense of urgency about the Air New Zealand rescue.

"Unfortunately it looks as though the taxpayer will be putting up hundreds of millions more than it did two weeks ago because Helen Clark has to be saved from further embarrassment.

"A deal worth $850 million two weeks ago looks set to rise to over $1 billion. The final deal will bring an end to the dithering and blundering, started by Dr Cullen, picked up by Helen Clark, and now passed on to Brierley Investments.

"Brierleys and Singapore Airlines will be pleased that the Government has to save its political skin with a very large cheque," Mr English said.

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