SkyCity holds all the cards yet again

SkyCity holds all the cards in the latest round of negotiations with the Government over the convention centre and Steven Joyce is left holding a dud hand that he dealt himself as taxpayers are set to pay twice for his incompetence, Labour's Economic Development Spokesperson, David Clark.

“Unfortunately the cost blowout and new round of negotiations was always going to happen. I predicted a blowout of this nature in September last year - before the ink on the deal was dry. It was the logical outcome of a contract negotiated by a Government that had put itself over a barrel.

“Gambling industry experts have credited Sky City with an astonishingly good deal and the company looks set for another round. Well played by them. But National stacked the deck in SkyCity’s favour.

“Sky City always had the inside running to get this deal after Key met privately with them. The Auditor General did ‘not consider that the evaluation process was transparent or even handed’. Too late: National had expended political capital and the taxpayer was on the hook.

“Sadly, it is the taxpayer who will pick up the cost of National’s incompetence as Steven Joyce has shown he is an amateur negotiator.

“SkyCity is continuing to turn the screw. They are a commercial operator. Not only will 8000 more kiwis suffer the consequences of problem gambling in their family, but taxpayers will suffer the ignominy of paying extra for the privilege,” David Clark says.

ENDS

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