John Carter MP
National Party Local Government Spokesman

31 October 2006

Rates inquiry: Just get on with it, Labour

National’s Local Government spokesman, John Carter, expects the terms of reference for Labour’s rates inquiry to cover the burden imposed on councils through dozens of pieces of legislation passed over the past seven years.

“I understand that the inquiry’s terms of reference went through Cabinet yesterday and were to be put before Labour’s Caucus this morning.

“We have waited weeks and weeks for the terms of reference following Labour’s surprise announcement of an inquiry in August.

“The ratepayers of New Zealand expect the Labour Government to just get on with it.

“So far the Minister, Mark Burton, has shown none of the urgency that long-suffering ratepayers would expect if he was genuinely concerned about their plight.

“National expects Labour’s inquiry to focus on the 67 pieces of legislation that have been passed during its time in power, all of which have imposed extra costs on local government – and therefore ratepayers.

“National also expects that the public will have the chance to make submissions to the inquiry.

“If Labour fails to make the grade with its inquiry, ratepayers should know that National - with the support of the Greens - still have the option of forcing a parliamentary inquiry through the Local Government and Environment Select Committee.

“It remains to be seen whether Labour’s inquiry is up to the task or not.”

ENDS

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