Monday 6 May 2002

It's Strife, Jim: Report Slates Industry New Zealand

Jim Anderton must front up and explain why Industry New Zealand doesn't pass parliamentary scrutiny, ACT Finance Spokesman MP Rodney Hide said today.

"Where's Jim? He used to take every opportunity to pump up his `jobs machine', and now he's nowhere to be found. The Commerce Committee's review of Mr Anderton's `jobs machine' is a shocker. The review says:

"We expressed concern on being told by our Audit Office advisers they had gained the impression that INZ have a far greater focus on the granting of funding rather than establishing financial control systems."

"I think the Commerce Committee was being very restrained merely to `express concern'. Most taxpayers would be horrified to learn that Jim Anderton's flagship outfit is failing even to give money away.

"New Zealanders in the struggling regions well-accustomed to Jim Anderton and his pre-election promises will be surprised to learn the majority of awards and grants from this incubator of `regional development' have gone to Auckland City. Jim obviously forgot to tell us all that Auckland was struggling more than Gisborne or the Far North.

"The major gap between budgeted and actual expenditure is astounding. Mr Anderton's `jobs machine' was established to `pick the winners', but it can't even balance a cheque book," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media