Bill English National Finance Spokesman

6 June 2001

National cries foul over super fund select committee process

National has condemned the select committee process on the Government's super fund proposal.

"We moved to prevent the Government shutting down debate and reporting the Bill back to Parliament. That move was blocked. It now looks as if the chat with Winston Peters will be done behind closed doors with no public scrutiny," National's Bill English said today

"The fund will, because of its sheer size, have a significant impact on New Zealand, and Parliament should have done a thorough job. Instead the Government has jammed the Bill through the select committee.

"National members have not had the opportunity to take debatable issues to the National Caucus. The Government has created for itself a procedural shambles to match the political shambles now afflicting the Bill.

"The Government has rushed the Bill through public scrutiny, and now relies on Winston Peters' say-so to get it through Parliament. This is hardly a recipe for the 100 years of political stability the legislation needs for the super fund to work," Bill English said.

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