Sunday, 16 June 2002.

“Auckland City Councillors should heed the call of the public who have overwhelmingly spoken against the planned sale of public assets and the cuts in community and environmental services and support.” says Wake Up Auckland spokesperson, Marney Ainsworth.

According to senior Council officers who have replied to questions from Wake Up Auckland, “Council staff were not asked to model different ways of dealing with debt other than via the asset sales process.” At the same time, “No resolutions were passed asking officers to model zero (in dollar terms) rate increases.”

“Councillors should heed the public response by taking the planned sales and service cuts off the table and go back to the drawing board. The $54m payout special payout from the Auckland airport shares should be used ensure that no cuts take place, rates are held and some debt is retired.

“Over the next twelve months, the Council should work with the community and central government to develop win-win solutions that both manage the debt and protect public ownership of strategic infrastructure, and keep the Council housing stock in public hands and control.”

This approach has the support of not only Wake Up Auckland, but also the Council Housing Action Group and the Pensioner Action Group

The ACRN dominated Council came to power last October with a minority of the popular vote and have since promoted unmandated policies that are clearly unpopular with the majority of the public.

At first they invented a debt mountain to justify their planned austerity budget. Once this claim was proven to be untrue, they then attempted to claim a looming debt mountain which investigations show they themselves plan to run up over the next two years.

For further comment please contact:

Marney Ainsworth

Ph: 376 6213

Mob 021 284 7122

Email: marney@xtra.co.nz

Maire Leadbeater

Mob: 025-436 957

AH 815 9000

Email: maire@clear.net.nz

Sigrid Shayer

Council Housing Group

Ph 361 1517

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