Date 21/07/2013

For IMMEDIATE USE

Steven Joyce Gets Grilled by Youth MP’s

By Winona D’Costa

Youth Press Gallery.

It was politicians, not Youth MP’s that began to squirm during Question Time at youth parliament. Squirming particularly was the Minister of Economic Development the Honourable Steven Joyce. Joyce’s interrogation by youth MP’s on the SkyCity Deal took centre stage during the Youth Parliament Question Time.

“Will the $90 million profit outweigh 70 thousand affected by gambling?” Asked Abbas Nazari, Dr Kennedy Graham’s Youth MP. “How does the minister plan to deal with the rising effects from the SkyCity Deal?” Probed Henry Thompson, Youth MP for Andrew Williams. These were the type of questions that were hurled at Steven Joyce.

Responding calmly under scrutiny over the SkyCity deal, Joyce expressed on one occasion “I wonder which government this person is supporting!” Joyce raised the point that “there are social harms in any situation.”

A glimpse of probable banter then ensued when a Youth MP cheekily referred to a Labour Government making a similar deal in the past, but National’s deal getting a bigger profit.

The sale of state assets was next on the agenda for Youth MP’s during Question Time. Dean Buckley, Youth MP for Mojo Mathers questioned the Minister on “why is the government selling state assets instead of borrowing?”

The Minister informed Dean Buckley and the other Youth MP’s that the “money raised will fund infrastructure so that money does not have to be borrowed in times of financial crisis. Deepening capital markets also gives more options to Kiwis as to where they can put their savings.”

Furthermore the minister brought to their attention that “foreign investment brings more jobs” which certainly made most of the youth MP’s sit up in their chairs.

Asked if he was concerned with the disparity between Labour and National in polling due to Asset Sales, the minister replied

“I’m happy with the current disparity!”

With that the Honourable Steven Joyce could stop squirming as his interrogation was complete.

ENDS

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