Alliance says National privatization plans will hurt New Zealanders

Alliance Party media release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 26 January 2011

The Alliance Party says most New Zealanders are opposed to privatization, but National will sell off assets to benefit its "friends" – the super rich and overseas corporations.

Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray says today's announcement that National is planning part privatization of assets reveals the true agenda of John Key.

The public assets that New Zealanders own benefit all of us, not just a few, she says.

"Privatization will simply mean more profit being sucked offshore and the loss of control over our own future."

"Most New Zealanders are struggling with low wages, high prices for food and housing, and have been hit by increases in unfair taxes like GST under National. They will not have the opportunity to invest in privatized assets because they do not have the money."

Instead, the benefits would go to a minority of the wealthy and overseas owners, or in other words, John Key's friends.

The Alliance is opposed to any privatization and was founded on the principles of public ownership and control of water, electricity, telecommunications, railways, ports and airports.

"We have consistently campaigned to prevent the sale of these assets and in the 2011 election, the Alliance will be campaigning to keep public assets safe in public hands."

ENDS

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