Tony Milne Labour Candidate for Rakaia

04 March 2005

Labour Candidate Challenges Brian to end his silence.

“Brian Connell’s commitments to the people of Rakaia are falling to pieces and I challenge Brian to break his silence” Tony Milne said.

“Brian Connell, in his maiden speech in 2002, criticised the ‘frittering away of money on Kiwi Bank, the Superfund, and Air New Zealand’. In 2003 he said that Kiwibank was a ‘a dog. It will not be sold, because nobody will buy it. Its book is appalling, and the large banks do not want it. It will not be given away’”. “Last year National backed down on the superfund and Brian was silent. Today National has backed down on selling Kiwibank and Air New Zealand. Will Brian again be silent?”

“I challenge him to either back down on his statements or defend the position he campaigned to the people of Rakaia on before the 2002 General Election, and commitments he made to the people of Rakaia in his Maiden speech” Tony Milne said.

“Last month I challenged Brian to explain where he stood on Nationals u-turn on 4 weeks leave and Brian was silent. Just 2 months ago Brian Connell called legislation giving people a fourth week of annual leave ‘anti-business’, ‘socialist claptrap’ and a ‘step backwards’. Of the more extraordinary claims Mr Connell had made was that legislation granting four weeks leave would lead to ‘marriage break-ups, more solo parents, and more kids in crime’.

“I think the people of Rakaia deserve an explanation from Brian about whether he's now supporting these policies, and if he is, why he has made such a dramatic about turn.

“I make a commitment that if I’m elected Rakaia MP this year, I will say what I believe and stick by it”, said Mr Milne. "Politics require principles and the courage to stick by them. The people of Rakaia deserve no less."

ENDS

© Scoop Media