Katherine Rich

National Broadcasting Spokesperson

7 July 2000

Marian Hobbs takes 8 months to make waffle

The "high level policy paper" released by the Minister of Broadcasting last night was about as exciting as the TV test pattern, National's Broadcasting Spokesperson Katherine Rich said today.

"The policy paper is nothing more than a plan to develop plans, at some unspecified time in the future.

"You have to ask what Marian Hobbs has been doing since the election. After 8 months under her stewardship broadcasting policy in New Zealand is not one single step ahead.

"The policy paper is an exercise in bureaucracy gone mad. It's a meaningless regurgitation of things the Government already knew or believed eight months ago.

"In the fast moving world of broadcasting this snail's pace of progress means the Government is unlikely to implement any of its broadcasting policies before 2001.

"Labour had nine long years to make plans for this portfolio. It seems that when it comes to broadcasting Marian's intellectual cupboard is bare," Katherine Rich said.

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