CITIZENS AGAINST PRIVATISATION
Press Statement

Where’s the Public Consultation
Re Regional Govt Proposals

PUBLIC MEETING
Te Atatu Community Centre
Behind foodtown/ ASB - Te Atatu roundabout.( Edmonton Rd)
Thursday 23 Nov 7.30pm

The public are being kept in the dark. It is not acceptable that it is left to groups such as ours to alert the Public to the horrendous implications of these proposals (see below). CAP call on the council to immediately call on Govt to give this process more time to allow meaningful consultation to occur .They are clearly in breach of the LGA which outlines that consultation needs to occur before major strategic changes are implemented.

AUCKLAND REGIONAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS

3 options have been presented to the region’s councils. Government legislation due after Christmas.

Residents fear proposals will signal another wave of privatisation of local services with more cost burden put on working class communities, through regressive taxes. All this with little or no consultation.

For example, all three options propose a vertically integrated system for water delivery. This means one large commercial water company for the region run for profit, charging user pays for water and waste water like the hated Metro water company in Auckland city. Should profits be made from this life giving source? Public private partnerships or franchising could follow. United Water the giant European Water Multi National that currently runs Papakura’s water is waiting in the wings.

Official proposals follow in the next emails plus info RE: regional public meetings to organise opposition.

Auckland City Council discussed regional options at 6pm, Thursday 9th of November. CAP along with other groups picketed. WCC are due to discuss proposals on Mon 27th Nov.

PROPSALS: A RECIPE FOR MORE PRIVATISATION AND MORE COSTS TRANSFERRED TO THE LOW/ MIDDLE INCOME MAJORITY

Despite 4 Auckland Mayors backtracking on AMALGAMATION of some or all of our regions Councils – RE: THAT MEETING WITH HELEN CLARK

THE AGENDA CONTINUES

Council CEO’S and Govt officials have been working on proposals for a Regional formula. Helen Clark wants the whole thing implemented after Christmas.

The joint Government/Councils proposals will go to parliament this DECEMBER

Not since ROGERNOMICS has legislation been foisted on an unsuspecting public with such speed.

The world cup Is being used as a smoke screen, a red herring, an excuse for a renewed corporate agenda both regionally and nationally.

Is Labour sucking up to big business in a pathetic attempt at re-election while working class people will once again be the sacrificial lambs?

WE MUST STOP THIS NOW!

These proposals will mean less democracy and more power and influence for big business. Make no mistake corporate interests are driving this agenda.

Unelected so called business leaders may be appointed to run our city for profit. We will be the losers.

Demand our respective councils oppose these plans before they are submitted in November.

Councillors throughout the regions should stop this before it reaches government and becomes a reality.

Only public pressure can make this happen.

WORKING CLASS FAMILIES WILL SUFFER THE MOST

Privatisation of water, roading and other essential services will be part of this.

Private public partnerships will allow private companies to plunder our services for profit, leaving the public to clean up the mess.

Look no further than railways.

More user-pays charges, flat taxes even poll taxes will be considered. These only serve to transfer costs to the low average majority while providing huge tax cuts for the wealthy.

Rates for businesses will decrease and the business deferential will probably be scrapped. While our costs will increase to subsidise private enterprise..

WE CANNOT ALLOW BIG BUSINESS TO RUN RAMPANT OVER OUR LIVES

Local government reorganisation in the 1980’s promised lower rates and more efficiency. This never happened.

Why should these proposed changes improve anything? Don’t be conned!

CAP DEMANDS more democracy, greater public control over services and a rating system that does not penalise the working class majority .

. Time is running out.

ENDS

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