1 October 2007

How Far Will National’s Privatisation Agenda Go?

Schools are for our young to learn and grow, not a commodity to be exploited for profit by National’s privatising mates, says New Zealand First education spokesperson Brian Donnelly.

“National’s privatisation agenda is gradually being exposed for all to see, a fire sale of everything not bolted down (and even some things that are). Clearly nothing is sacrosanct – it will all be up for sale – even our children’s education,” said Mr Donnelly.

“National’s plans for our schools comes just a week after Bill English let slip that National would flog off state assets, and just days after National announced moves to privatise the health system, while uncapping doctors fees.

“While National has released little policy of significance since Mr Key took over as leader, the common theme running through policy that has been released is privatisation.

“Even the very staples of our society – our schools – are under threat. The key question National has failed to answer is who will get rich from its plans and who will pay. History has shown that under a privatization agenda, it is National’s mates who get rich and the hard working taxpayers who pay.

“What’s more, Mr Key has tried to wriggle out of his statements by claiming he was misquoted. This is not the first time that Mr Key has claimed he was ‘misquoted’ after revealing something likely to be unpopular with Kiwis.

“New Zealanders will need to examine National’s statements very carefully and decipher the message behind them. Otherwise they will inadvertently return the nation to the days of Douglas and Richardson when the few gained and the many pained,” said Mr Donnelly.

ENDS

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