18 April 2013

Joyce’s rant shows National bereft of ideas and panicking

Steven Joyce’s media release is a disgrace and a further sign that the failed ‘Mr Fix It’ has no ideas and no solutions for New Zealand, Green Party Co-leader Dr Russel Norman said today.

Minister Joyce’s release on the Greens and Labour’s electricity announcement is full of basic inaccuracies: he says that NZ Power would exempt electricity companies from corporate tax and dividends, which is completely false and not backed by anything in the discussion document.

“It’s actually a bit sad to see that after four hours, all Steven Joyce can come up with is a foaming at the mouth release that contains basic inaccuracies,” said Dr Norman.

“Kiwis deserve better from National. Kiwis deserve an honest debate about how we are going to get electricity prices down to a fair level. Instead, we get hysteria from the failed ‘Mr Fix It’ who has overseen a 19% increase in electricity prices in four years.

“National has to decide whether they want to stand for higher power prices and fat dividends for overseas owners of power companies or lower power prices for Kiwi families and businesses.

“We know why National doesn’t want to engage seriously in this issue and has instead presented New Zealand with a childish rant: National has no answers and no ideas. National is running panicking after the Green/Labour joint announcement of NZ Power to bring electricity prices down.

“Under National’s watch the average family is paying over $300 a year more for power and that will just keep going up because National lacks the ideas and courage to make the changes that are needed.

“What’s crazy is National’s plan to let electricity companies continue to suck billions of dollars out of the economy in excessive profits.

“The Greens’ plan will bring prices down. It will save families $300 a year. It will reduce the power bills of businesses and create jobs. That’s something worth talking about. Once Mr Joyce calms down and gets his facts straight, we’ll be happy to debate the issue with him,” said Dr Norman.

ENDS

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