Sunday 21st May 2000
Rodney Hide Media Release -- Economy

“Cabinet tomorrow must produce a clear plan to restore confidence in the New Zealand economy,” said ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide today.

“The government is running out of time. Business needs a clear signal. Last week was a disaster. The dollar tumbled to an all-time low. Business confidence has slumped.

“The Prime Minster announcing the massive hand-out to the arts looked like Nero fiddling while business burns.

“Jim Anderton and Michael Cullen are giving conflicting messages. We now have Alliance strategist Matt McCarten complaining that Jim Anderton is being too patient. I shudder to think what Jim Anderton may do next.

“Michael Cullen needs to get Cabinet united and bound by collective responsibility. The country can’t afford to have a Deputy Prime Minister shooting down government policy just because his party isn’t polling well.

“Michael Cullen also needs to get Cabinet to agree to an economic direction and plan to reverse the damage fast. Michael Cullen must work with business, not against them. He should announce that business concerns have been heeded and the government is prepared to rework the Employment Relations Bill.

“Dr Cullen also needs to silence Jim Anderton. While it might serve the Coalition to have Mr Anderton constantly branding himself, it plays havoc with investors and ultimately with the country’s ability to provide jobs.

“Business will be looking at tomorrow’s cabinet very closely. I just hope that Dr Cullen appreciates the scrutiny that he and his colleagues are under,” said Rodney Hide.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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