5 October 2007 Media Statement

Another bad week for the National party

For the second week in a row, the National Party has bungled a series of policy announcements and left New Zealanders alarmed at the party's true agenda, Labour MP Steve Maharey said today.

"First we had Mr Key saying that schools could be owned and operated by the private sector, then he disappeared for 2 days, then he said he didn't say that and what he really wanted was to privatise school property," Steve Maharey said.

"Then Mr Key fumbled when he was asked whether Macquarie Bank or any other overseas multinational with links to the National Party might be involved in owning and running New Zealand schools if National ever became government.

"Then we had reports that Mr Key had promised business leaders he would do away with the Labour-led government's cap on tertiary tuition fees, only to then claim he hadn't said that at all.

"Then Mr Key claimed the war in Iraq was over, which will be news to the thousands who have died this year alone. Mr Key then tried to claim that's not what he meant, and claimed he only said that because he was specifically asked. Then we found out he hadn't been asked at all.

"Then, just when we all thought he couldn't possibly make more of a mess of things, Mr Key went on radio and claimed the National Party hadn't confirmed their policy of selling state-owned enterprises, despite his Deputy Leader Bill English stating on Agenda just two weeks ago that they had.

"The past two weeks have been a shambles for the National Party. Not only are they having an identity crisis, when the New Zealand public get a glimpse of what National really stands for, they are alarmed to say the least. In the past two weeks the National Party have pledged to:

- sell down the government's shareholding in state owned enterprises
- remove restrictions on what people can be charged for doctors visits
- return to a focus on privatisation in the health sector
- get private businesses to own and operate schools on behalf of the state
- increase funding for privately run schools
- abolish the cap on tertiary student fees (subsequently denied)

"The National Party's fortnight of bungles has also clearly demonstrated, if ever further proof was needed, that Mr Key has little, if any, grasp on the details of the policies he is putting his name to. At least we knew what Don Brash stood for.

"With John Key heading overseas next week, no doubt Bill English and Simon Power will be taking every opportunity available to pump their own profiles and present a more experienced leadership combo. The National Party's knives are never sharper than when the leader is overseas," Steve Maharey said.

ENDS

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