JOYCE'S ROCKET: TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE
ALLOWED TO SEE WHAT THEY PAID FOR
18 MAY
2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The
Taxpayers’ Union says it is disgraceful that
taxpayer-funded venture, Rocket Lab, is refusing to allow
the New Zealand public from viewing live images of the
planned test launch of the company’s first low earth orbit
rocket next week.
Taxpayers’ Union
Executive Director, Jordan Williams, says, “Taxpayers have
contributed up to $25 million into this private
American-owned venture thanks to this Government’s
corporate welfare schemes. At least with the corporate
welfare given to American film studios, the public get to
watch the results. Here, in the event of anything going
wrong, the company can prevent any of us seeing our money go
up in flames.”
“We think it is timely that the
launch is scheduled the week of Steven Joyce’s first
budget. Like the rocket, many eyes will be watching whether
Budget 2017 flies, or whether wasteful government spending,
such as the $1.3 billion per year on corporate welfare, see
meaningful tax cuts go up in
flames."
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