Quit Pandering To Unions, Minister

ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington today said that Transport Minister Paul Swain's use of road user funds to pander to union interests was totally irresponsible and unacceptable.

"Answers to my written Parliamentary Questions have revealed that Mr Swain has not ruled out using funds from road users to subsidise local shipping," Miss Coddington said.

"The reintroduction of cabotage will, at best, protect the jobs of maritime workers - and possibly create about 60 more jobs on the waterfront.

"This is short-term thinking. Granting privilege to one sector of the industry will hugely disadvantage New Zealand manufacturers and exporters, who need to get their goods to market as efficiently as possible. That doesn't just improve their bottom line profits, it lifts the standard of living for all New Zealanders.

"But Labour has created a climate where certain industry groups can see they can be favoured - provided they lobby hard enough. The more powerful the lobby group, the more successful it is.

"That's how business was done in the 1970s, and look at the result in 1983 - an economy resembling a Polish shipyard.

"Cabotage will have a devastating effect on small to medium-sized business. It's time for Mr Swain to quit pandering to his union mates. He must start standing up for the wealth creators in this country - the people who create jobs and who have a positive effect on the economy," Miss Coddington said.

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