15 October 1999

FIRST THE BEECH CONTRACTS … NOW WHAT'S NEXT?

United New Zealand leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says Labour's decision to renege on West Coast beech contracts sends a dire warning about the sanctity of the rest of its policy commitments.

"The about-face on beech contracts shows Labour will abruptly change any aspect of its policy commitments, or override without warning any contracts, if it suits it politically to do so."

"This means its word cannot be relied upon," he says.

Mr Dunne says that Labour's untrustworthiness is especially worrying, given the extremist policies of its likely coalition partner, the Alliance.

"What the beech contracts incident shows is that Labour's word cannot be relied upon, if the going gets tough."

"Therefore, all the Alliance has to do is dig its toes on its more extreme policies and Labour will do a craven about-face."

"Labour's assurances that the Alliance's extremist economic and tax policies will not be implemented under a Labour-led Government are now meaningless."

"Labour's actions on the beech contracts show it will break its word on anything it has to, if that is what it takes to get the Alliance's backing."

"This decision is a death-blow to Labour's pretences of being able to lead a reliable and stable Government, able to secure the confidence of the business community and job growth," Mr Dunne says.

ENDS
New Zealand's Liberal Party

MEDIA STATEMENT
HON PETER DUNNE, MP
LEADER UNITED NEW ZEALAND
Parliament Buildings, Wellington 1.
h (04)471 9410 or (025) 469 808. Fax (04)499 7266.
e-mail: peter.dunne@parliament.govt.nz. Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

New Zealand's Liberal Party

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