Don Brash MP
National Party Leader

13 June 2006

Action not words needed on Auckland power

National Party Leader Don Brash says Labour needs to tell the public what it actually plans to do to avoid a repeat performance of yesterday’s shambolic black-out in Auckland.

“Eight years after the vulnerability of Auckland’s power supply was exposed in a series of city-wide black-outs, it’s staggering that a single line can still cause so much disruption.

“Labour has utterly failed in its management of the energy sector. The time for talking on this issue has past. Labour needs to tell the public that this will be fixed and fast.

“David Parker says he expects answers by the end of the year, while the Electricity Commission has said it will ‘investigate’ whether additional investment is needed.

“That simply isn’t acceptable. Labour has had seven years to deal with the security of Auckland’s power supply,” says Dr Brash.

“People in Auckland want action now. They’ve heard all the excuses before. What are you actually going to do Prime Minister?”

ENDS

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