Friday, September 28 2001

ACT Commerce Spokesman Stephen Franks says the Government needs to give some assurance the strong wave of public goodwill towards Air New Zealand will not be wasted through money being sucked offshore and into the wreckage of Ansett Australia.

"Loyal New Zealanders such as Dick Hubbard are getting in behind Air New Zealand. The attitude of the Air NZ staff and the public toward saving the airline is terrific.

"These efforts could be squandered if the Air New Zealand money just goes to mollify belligerent Australian unions.

"The Government can do something about this. The Government has been loose-lipped on the share price, something that might matter least in the long run. Now it must tell us whether the efforts of these patriotic kiwis could be wasted for the benefit of Australia or Singapore Airlines, or even Brierley Investments.

"For securities law reasons the Government should be disclosing, but quite apart from that they can't keep holding out on all the New Zealanders who want to help, but need to know what might happen to their money.

"New Zealanders need to know that their best intentions towards our national carrier are not undermined by a dithering Government. They need to know that the Government has enough judgement to know the difference between the national interest and the interest of BIL, Singapore and Australians.

"Put the interests of kiwis first ' otherwise all the goodwill could evaporate," Stephen Franks said.

Ends

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