28 OCTOBER 2015

Ministers of Sport And Trade M.I.A. on Wellington Phoenix

The Football Federation Australia’s (FFA) rejection of Wellington Phoenix’s 10-year licence is shameful treatment of the Wellington Phoenix, says Spokesperson for Trade Fletcher Tabuteau.

“New Zealand First is asking what the Minister of Sport and Recreation Jonathan Coleman and the Minister of Trade Tim Groser are doing about it.

“Our Australian cousins have delivered the Wellington Phoenix the football equivalent of an underarm delivery. Clearly, the Ministers need to act, starting with calls to their counterparts and the FFA for a ‘please explain’.

“It rams home the second-class treatment of Kiwis and Kiwi businesses. A major financial investment will be wrecked along with the emotional investment of fans.

“This now highlights the way 650,000 Kiwis living in Australia are treated and even banned from joining the Australian armed forces. The relationship we have with Australia is increasingly one-sided, despite all the platitudes of fraternal love and respect from the Prime Minister.

“There is a role for the government because the implications extend beyond sport and go towards CER, the New Zealand-Australia Closer Economic Relations Investment Protocol and the relationship we have with our biggest trading partner,” says Mr Tabuteau.

ENDS

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