18 February 2003 Media statement

Anti-business Act puts politics ahead of New Zealand’s interests

Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton is astonished at continuing attacks on business from the Act Party.

He says the Act Party has a strategy of attacking any business that works with government or succeeds in New Zealand.

“Act needs to make the economy fail for its own political ends. With the economy growing consistently faster that it did at any time when Act or its allies were in or supporting government, everything about Act’s political philosophy is being proved wrong.

“It turns out that intelligent partnerships between government and the private sector to remove the obstacles to growth will deliver better outcomes for everyone than Act’s ‘hands off’ approach.

“Act is desperate to end the buoyant economic conditions, and it is doing what oppositional political parties do, attack any business that works with the government or succeeds internationally.

“It is particularly vicious towards businesses that have a go and fail. But, it is in the nature of entrepreneurial activity that sometimes businesses won’t succeed. Entrepreneurs should not be abused when they fail, they should be praised for having a go.

“The fact that ACT, a supposedly business friendly party, doesn’t know that or doesn’t care if it does, strikes at the very heart of its political credibility, ” Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

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