David
Shearer
Labour Leader

25 October 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT

Asset sales obsession hammers Greymouth

John Key’s obsession with selling our assets has cost 220 workers their jobs and shattered the community of Greymouth, says Labour Leader David Shearer.

“The Spring Creek miners are a casualty of the Government’s insistence on preparing Solid Energy for sale.

“National is solely focussed on the bottom line and making a quick return by selling off the company. It’s ignoring the impact of that decision on the workers, their families, local businesses and the wider community.

“Labour takes a very different approach. We would look to the long-term future of Solid Energy and work with the miners and the company to find a way through.

“The miners are proud of their work. They brought a proposal to the Government in an attempt to keep the mine open but Tony Ryall rejected their plan outright. They deserve better than that.

“Selling assets isn’t the solution to growing our economy. It’s about creating jobs and opportunities.

“For this country to succeed Labour believes government needs to be a player in the game but National is just sitting on the sideline.

“New Zealand needs to change. I believe in a high-wage, high-skilled future for New Zealand. In Government Labour will stand alongside workers, businesses and our heartland communities such as Greymouth to help them grow.

“Labour has the bold and innovative ideas to get the economy growing, businesses expanding and workers earning better wages.

“John Key promised a brighter future but he has let Kiwis down. New Zealanders have every right to be disappointed in him,” says David Shearer.

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