Monday 21st Aug 2000
Richard Prebble Media Release -- Economy

ACT MPs are hitting the road over the next three weeks on a political report-back tour which will take in more than 25 centres throughout the whole of the South Island.

ACT Leader Richard Prebble said the tour, dubbed “Southern ACTion,” will be a chance for ACT MPs to hear directly the issues and concerns affecting people in the South Island.

“ACT is the only party that undertakes listening and report-back tours like this one because we do not believe MPs should only be seen in an election year,” Mr Prebble said.

He said ACT was leading the “fight-back,” against “disastrous policy changes” by the Government, such as the Employment Relations Act, which stripped workers of their right to choose, and turned the clock back to embrace compulsory unionism.

“One of the things we will be doing during Southern ACTion is telling people how to beat and survive the Employment Relations Act,” Mr Prebble said.

Mr Prebble said ACT had been a very effective opposition in leading the fight-back on issues of health and social welfare.

“The ACT party believes the Government’s radical decision to include the Treaty of Waitangi in health and social legislation, will just result in litigation.”

Mr Prebble said by going on the road in the South Island for three weeks, ACT will give the public an opportunity to talk directly to MPs.

“ACT believes that part of the reason why we are so effective in parliament is because we have kept in touch with voters through tours like the Southern ACTion,” Mr Prebble said.

The Southern ACTion Tour will kick off in Blenheim on Wednesday afternoon, 23 August and will cover a full circuit of the island, ending back in Nelson on 6 September.

All of ACT’s nine MPs will be taking part in the tour at some stage and will be travelling in ACT’s distinctive bright yellow, purpose-built campaign bus.

“You can’t miss it,” Mr Prebble said.

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

© Scoop Media