Jim Anderton Socks Taxpayers For Another $2 Million

ACT New Zealand Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide today said that taxpayers shouldn't have to work hard paying tax so that politicians like Jim Anderton can play at being businessmen.

"Jim Anderton has an abysmal record at picking winners. He declared his Sovereign Yachts' development at Hobsonville a `Triumph for the Jobs Machine'. That project turned to dust leaving taxpayers poorer by millions. Mr Anderton's grant to The Warehouse was supposed to yield a return of 233 percent. The Warehouse - thanks to me - ended up having to pay the money back.

"Now Jim Anderton has plunged $2 million of taxpayers' money into Protemix's drug research. ACT wishes Protemix every success especially since they have raised $18 million from the private sector.

"But we object most strongly to taxpayers being made to cough up to help this company out. That's for private investors.

"Jim Anderton is so lax at throwing other people's money around he hasn't even factored in a return for the taxpayer. He has simply given the money away. It's outrageous.

"New Zealanders wondering why there are no policemen when they call, and why they can't get an operation when they need one, need look no further than Mr Anderton who can conjure up $2 million for a private company doing speculative drug research - but has no money for police, for medical operations, or for schools.

"The Government should focus precious taxpayer dollars on core government services. The best way to help the private sector is not with handouts, but with reduced compliance costs and lower tax," Mr Hide said.

© Scoop Media