"The Government must take two actions to completely quash community trust concerns that it plans to raid their $2 billion of assets to pay for regional development and the People's Bank, National Economic Development spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"Community trusts remain worried about the Government's motives in relation to their assets.

"The provisions in the Public Audit Bill and a review being carried out for Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development is exacerbating the concerns.

"To completely remove any threat Jim Anderton must withdraw community trusts from the Public Audit Bill.

"He must also pull the review of trusts being carried out by consultant Pete McKinlay.

"The trusts are very worried that the Government has a hidden agenda. Those concerns will linger while the Government presses on with the law change and the consultant's review.

"Jim Anderton could do two simple things to completely remove the uncertainty.

"He is also utterly wrong in his claims I suggested community trusts be subject to Government audit."

Ends

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