Labour Leader Helen Clark said tonight all eyes would be on New Zealand First tomorrow to see if it intended yet again to bail the National Party out of a tight corner as it did after the last election.

Mr Bradford's poorly targeted electricity legislation cannot pass without New Zealand First support.

"New Zealand First knows that it is the retail companies, not the line companies, which bear the primary responsibility for power price increases since Mr Bradford's restructuring.

"If Mr Bradford were really on the side of consumers as he claims, he would be directing his attention to the retail end, and not at the line companies at this stage.

"Labour's deputy leader Michael Cullen made it clear at the time the legislation was introduced that there were significant problems with it and that if they were not addressed, he would recommend Labour vote against it.

"Labour believes that Mr Bradford should immediately order a full inquiry by the Commerce Commission into why prices have risen, and work constructively with the electricity industry on a regulatory framework which will work.

"Rushing through this poorly targeted legislation in the dying days of this National Party administration is most unlikely to reduce prices," Helen Clark said.

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