Special Debate on ENZA Likely Tomorrow
Special Debate on ENZA Likely Tomorrow
The Speaker, Jonathan Hunt, is likely to approve a special debate in Parliament tomorrow on the crisis in the apple industry, ACT leader Richard Prebble says.
Mr Prebble, who has written to the Speaker seeking a debate, said today's confirmation by the Prime Minister that Cabinet is threatening ENZA with statutory management, is an extraordinary development.
"No viable company has ever been put into statutory management. The government is effectively saying to ENZA: 'do as we say, or we'll seize your property'. That's communism.
"Such an action would have far-reaching, adverse effects on New Zealand's reputation as a nation that respects private property, enforces legal contracts and obeys the rule of law.
"There is a serious crisis in the apple industry, triggered by the government's ham-fisted deregulation. The growers need certainty but the government's actions so far have made a bad situation worse.
"Given the extraordinary actions that Ministers are threatening against ENZA, I believe the Speaker will approve a debate which will allow Parliament to discuss the issues and scrutinise the actions of the Minister and his officials," Mr Prebble said.
ENDS
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.