Tuesday 11th Jul 2000
Owen Jennings
Media Release -- Environment

Changes announced by the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers at the Local Government Conference in Christchurch today, can only be seen as another negative swipe at the business sector, said ACT Local Government spokesman Owen Jennings.

“Businesses who already pick up an unfair share of Local Authority expenditure due to political gerrymandering, will be dismayed to learn the Government proposes granting the authorities even greater powers.

“We already know the agendas of authorities like “The Peoples Republic of Christchurch” will see Local Authorities embarking on ambitious social, and commercial pursuits on the back of higher rates and charges to business.

“While the Government can be commended for accepting the challenge of Local Government legislation review, the broad proposals outlined by the Prime Minister and her Ministers will result in higher business costs and a less competitive export sector.

“ACT NZ presented to the Conference a model where Local Authorities would be firmly restricted to supplying local public goods and services. ACT outlined the ways these services could be effectively and efficiently provided, while saving rate payers and the business sector a substantial amount of money.

“ACT supports an up dating of Local Government legislation, but strongly condemns the coalition Government’s proposals which can only exacerbate the lack of confidence the business sector already has with this Government,” said Owen Jennings.

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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