10 April 2002

Economic development minister Jim Anderton fully supports the purchase of a coffee machine for staff at the Ministry of Economic Development.

He says criticism of the machine is pathetic.

“So the Ministry has a nice coffee machine for its staff. That will make these valuable, under-appreciated public servants happier in their work, and anyone who attacks them for having a decent cup of coffee obviously doesn’t have anything important to criticise them for.

“It says everything about Rodney Hide’s contempt for the good work of public servants that he begrudges a cup of coffee for them. He is opposed to the concept of public service.

“If a private sector employer bought a coffee machine for the staff, it would be praised for treating them well.

“If the cost of the coffee machine had been spread across just fifty staff in pay increases, they would earn just $1.50 a week more for a year.

“There is nothing wrong with a good cup of coffee and there is nothing wrong with treating staff well.”

“Unemployment is at record low levels, and the regions of New Zealand are enjoying the highest levels of confidence in a generation and no amount of Act Party smearing will make the facts go away. If the price of success is the cost the price of a latte, then I’m all for it,” Jim Anderton said.

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