Tuesday 7 May 2002

ACT Finance Spokesman MP Rodney Hide said today that being dumped by his own party has clearly placed far too much pressure on Jim Anderton.

"Jim has never been a coherent thinker but his latest outburst shows what pressure he is under. His press release attacking me today is sad.

"Jim is facing attack from every angle. He's been dumped. He won't tell the Speaker. He won't admit his art forgery. His treasured Kiwibank is not panning out. His "Jobs Machine" triumph with Sovereign Yachts at Hobsonville has proved a disaster. He couldn't even convince Labour MP David Cunliffe and the Commerce Select Committee that his Jobs Machine is a winner.

"Sadly, Jim has chosen to ignore the facts. I have opposed his `Jobs Machine' from day one. I have opposed his policy of picking winners. I have opposed his policy of taxing business hard so that he can wander the country handing out lollies like some commercial Father Christmas. The ACT party has always said that all businesses should be helped equally by cutting taxes and slashing red tape.

"Jim should stop trying to defend the indefensible. He should shut his mouth - he may even learn something," Mr Hide said.

ENDS

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