Power To The People: The Buck Stops With The Pm

“The Prime Minister’s continued refusal to accept responsibility for the electricity shortage is the major impediment to short-term and longer-term solutions to our ongoing energy crisis,” said New Zealand First Deputy Leader Peter Brown.

“Labour has been warming the Treasury Benches for almost four years but are yet to do anything constructive. The Prime Minister’s penchant for blaming variously the weather, Max Bradford, the market, and power consumers, has worn thin – the buck stops with her.

“The decision to have the industry regulate itself is akin to allowing the fox to look after the chicken coop. This Government has a continuing habit of hiding behind private enterprise, quangos and SOEs rather then accepting responsibility for planning and performance.

“The Government must act now to provide financial rewards for savers of electricity, immediately introduce price regulation, and enter into contracts with major users to share the cost of further savings,” said Mr Brown.

“Longer-term solutions, including use of the tax system to encourage increased supply capacity, and amendments to legislation which hinder new schemes need to be committed to now.

“Most importantly we need a change of attitude from this Prime Minister and her buck-passing Government that they are indeed responsible for the potentially devastating problem facing our people and our economy today.

“The Government could have averted this crisis – if it had been prepared to use its powers – it has the powers to give us power,” said Mr Brown.

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