15 July 2002

National Still Doesn’t Support Industry And Regional Development

“Comments on Radio NZ today by National Finance Spokesperson David Carter show that National is still against supporting regions and businesses,” said Industry and Regional Development Minister Jim Anderton.

“David Carter said he had talked to a Hawkes Bay company that had received $100,000 and was laughing because, he claims, they said ‘they didn’t really need the money’.

“Mr Carter has seriously misrepresented their viewpoint.

“The truth is that the company concerned was able to speed up their expansion.

“More importantly the business growth grant they received enabled them to secure two international contracts; one in Northern Europe and another in Asia, which they otherwise would not have gained.

“These are jobs and orders that under National would never have happened.

“What David Carter’s comments illustrate is that National still thinks that market forces and minimalist government is the way forward. Yet this policy mix has already failed New Zealand.

“While unemployment grew and the regions declined under National, this Coalition Government has reversed both trends in two short years.

“In contrast the Progressive Coalition has policies which will improve our economic, industry, and regional development.

“An active partnership between the government the regions and business in the economy creates jobs and builds our towns and communities. National and ACT would take us back to the failed past,” said Jim Anderton.

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