Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday 23 July 2007

Alliance Party says Auckland Airport should be in public ownership

The Alliance Party says the Auckland Airport should be returned to public control, not sold to a global corporation.

Alliance Party transport spokesperson Bob van Ruyssevelt says the current buyout shows public infrastructure is continuing to be auctioned off.

"The Alliance says important and profitable infrastructure like this should be owned and managed for the benefit of the people of New Zealand by the people of New Zealand."

Mr van Ruyssevelt says the purchase will have a straighforward effect of moving profits away from New Zealand to unaccountable overseas corporates.

"This is not investment, it is a takeover which is about transferring control and profits of key New Zealand infrastructure to a global corporation."

He says the situation with the airport is part of a process where key assets continue to be sold off.

He says the Labour Government needs to stop fencesitting and start to act in the public interest.

"The people of New Zealand should not be content with being tenants in their own country," he said.

ENDS

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