2 April 2012

Keep Our Assets campaign calls on kiwis to make submissions

The members of a community campaign against asset sales are urging New Zealanders to make submissions on the Government’s proposed legislation to sell shares in our power companies and Air New Zealand.

The Keep Our Assets campaign is made up of community organisations who want to put a stop to the asset sale plan. Keep Our Assets is calling on all New Zealanders to express their opposition to the Mixed Ownership Model Bill which is currently being considered in the House.

“This law will allow the Government to sell off our strategic assets. We know that is something that the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders are against,” said AUSA President Arena Williams.

“We can put a stop to it if we work together. But there are only two weeks left until submissions close on this legislation so we are urging Kiwis to take action and make a submission.”

“It doesn’t make sense to sell our strategic assets. They belong to New Zealanders and should be retained for the benefit of future generations. Once these assets have been sold, they are gone for good,” said Grey Power National President Roy Reid.

Arena Williams and Roy Reid are the joint spokespeople for the Keep Our Assets campaign, which is campaigning towards a Citizens Initiated Referendum on asset sales. Keep our Assets is leading a campaign to get enough signatures to force a referendum on the following question: Do you support the Government selling up to 49% of Meridian Energy, Mighty River Power, Genesis Power, Solid Energy and Air NZ?

The campaign believes that the Government does not have a mandate to sell our assets and that New Zealanders must be given the chance to have their say.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives will consult the public on the wording of the petition before it is finalised. Then the collecting of the signatures of 10 per cent of the voters, or 307,000 New Zealanders, can get underway.

Submissions on The Mixed Ownership Model Bill can be sent to Committee Secretariat, Finance and Expenditure, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. The closing date is Friday 13 April.

ENDS

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