Gerry Brownlee MP
National Party Energy Spokesman

3 November 2008

Nine years doing nothing, admits Dalziel

National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee is appalled that after nine years, Labour is still trying to blame a previous Government for the energy sector problems which have escalated under their watch.

"Power crises every second or third year, repeated warnings over the security of our electricity supply, complaints that the ban on thermal generation is unworkable, and an Electricity Commission that has cost close to $300 million - all these have happened on Labour's watch.

"But Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel says the problems are all the fault of the previous Government - this is an absurd abdication of responsibilities."

Mr Brownlee is commenting after papers released under the Official Information Act show that a Commerce Commission probe of the electricity industry has so far taken 3-1/2 years and cost nearly $2 million.

"Labour has added layer upon layer of new bureaucracy. It has had nine years to fix the perceived problems in the sector. Passing the buck to a previous Government is just sad.

"I get the impression from the sector that there are huge communication issues between the bureaucracies involved in the energy sector reviews. There's duplication, and agencies appear reluctant to share information.

"Lianne Dalziel's attempt to pass the buck to the previous Government when they've stood by the system for the past nine years is proof positive that Labour has totally run out of ideas.

"It's time for a fresh approach."

ENDS

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