MEDIA RELEASE
Statement from David Thornton.

Rates Inquiry Report Should Be Released Immediately.

No Valid Reason For Government Not To Release.

Thousands of ratepayers, and others, involved in making submissions to the Independent Rates Inquiry are still waiting to see the report which was handed to the Minister of Local Government almost two weeks ago.

According to a small, one paragraph, item in yesterdays NZ Herald, Prime Minister Helen Clark says that the report will not be released for another two weeks because the Chair of the Inquiry, David Shand is ‘away’.

In these days of easy communication surely arrangements could be made for media to interview Mr. Shand in Timbuktu or wherever he may be.

When the Rates Inquiry was announced last year Local Government Minister Mark Burton said it was important that the report was available well before the local elections.

.At the Local Government conference in July Mr. Shand gave some strong hints about the content of the report.

I spoke with the Inquiry Office on August 3rd and was told that the Report would be with the Minister that day.

If public release of the report is delayed for a further two weeks this will put it almost one month behind schedule and very close to the local elections.

And rates are shaping up as a major issue in local elections.

In fact nominations for mayors and councils will close on 24th August, just nine days away - so those waiting to see the report before making a decision to run for election will be severely disadvantaged.

The absence of Mr. Shand should not hold up public release.

It is also interesting to note that, despite being ‘away’ Mr. Shand has today been appointed by the Government to be chairman of the Tertiary Education Commission.

Mr. Shand is in no way responsible for the public release of the report – it is the government which is withholding the report.

The report should now be released immediately so that it can be assessed and discussed by those seeking office – and the voters who will elect them - at the forthcoming local elections.

There can be no valid reason for the government to further delay the release of this very important report which will undoubtedly affect every ratepayer in the country – rural, residential and business.

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