Government Needs to Front on Saudi Backroom Deal

New Zealand First wants full disclosure of the Saudi Arabia sheep farm deal putting New Zealand’s reputation, sovereignty and integrity on the line.

“New Zealand First was the first to question this deal, which appears to be no more than a bribe, and now we are joined by the Auditor-General,” says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

“We have lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman because the dump of papers about the deal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not answer any of the questions we asked.

“The media need to ask hard questions over what David Carter and John Key may have promised in Opposition. We certainly will.

“The government seems more concerned about dishing out taxpayers’ money to line the pockets of rich foreigners, instead of addressing the real issues impacting our farmers.

“Right now dairy farmers face a calamity of falling dairy prices with Whole Milk Powder at the lowest ever level since Global Dairy Trade started. With no solid rise in sight farmers will end up working for the foreign owned banks until they find a buyer for their farms.

“The $6 million deal with a Saudi millionaire, trussed up by National to be good for New Zealand agribusiness, is anything but,” says Mr Peters.

ENDS

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