ACT Leader Richard Prebble said today the Alliance's economic development policy was a power grab by Jim Anderton

"His proposal to split economic responsibilites between a Treasurer and a Minister of economic development is nothing more than a power grab.

"The Treasurer in a Labour Alliance government, presumably Michael Cullen, will be left with the functions of levying tax and monitoring departments' performance whereas Jim Anderton will be in charge of spending tax payers' money.

"The spending Minister is always popular, whereas Ministers who audit performance and raise revenue have the unpopular task.

"The Alliance proposal is constitutionally unsound. Those who propose to spend money should also take responsibility for having to persuade the electorate to pay the taxes to support it.

"ACT is amazed that Labour is supporting this proposal. Labour has been assuring business people that they have Mr Anderton under control. Having Mr Anderton in charge of the country's spending policies is no reassurance at all.

"The policy should be renamed the proposal to make Jim Anderton Parliament's Father Christmas."

ENDS

© Scoop Media