Poll: 60pct against sale of state-owned assets

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Thu, 17 Feb 2011 6:00p.m.

Prime Minister John Key (NZPA)

Prime Minister John Key (NZPA)

By 3 News Political Editor Duncan Garner

The first verdict is in on the Prime Minister’s plan to partially privatise state-owned assets.

In the latest 3 News Reid Research poll, the overwhelming majority of Kiwi mums and dads Mr Key says he’s targeting, say they don’t want the assets to go on the block.

Mr Key started the year saying he wanted to partially sell off three state-owned power companies; Solid Energy, and sell down more of the Government’s stake in Air New Zealand.

“The early opportunity to buy in is directed at Kiwi mums and dads,” he said.

But those very people have now spoken, in the 3 News Reid Research Poll of 1000 voters – and 60 percent of them don’t like the idea.

Mr Key has been adamant he wants to push ahead with the plan to sell up to 49 percent of these state assets.

Today, presented with the 3 News poll results, Mr Key continued to say he’s got no plans to back away.

3 News asked Finance Minister Bill English if a negative poll results would see National ditch plan.

“We haven’t considered stepping back,” he said, adding that the party doesn’t “have any plans to step back”.

Labour says it’s not surprised by the result.

So Mr Key must now convince the public selling assets is worth it. Based on tonight’s results, that might be difficult.

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Comments

19 Feb 2011 05:33p.m.

James J Read wrote:

Come back Sir Roger, New Zealand needs you. Why all this fuss about the sale of so called assets. If we sold the assets, only the ownership would move off shore, Huntly power station for example would still be on the banks of the Waikato.With the government borrowing $300 million per week to keep us afloat, we must start finding some funds and repaying the debts. Asset sales are the logical solution.

19 Feb 2011 05:07p.m.

Proud labour union activist wrote:

Great team work guys, Looking forward to the BBQ Lunch, I see our union Assets are at 19 million. look if we have to sell $117'000.00 of our asserts to pay the tax bill so be it.

19 Feb 2011 02:46p.m.

bobberesford.com wrote:

Great to know that Democracy is irrelevant and the Nat cabinet will just follow the instructions from their bank sponsors and other masters in high finance and just sell off the country to corporate investment . So the country will bleed dry even further . Disguised as the cutesy " mum and dad investers" but Key has already admitted that any such shares can be sold offshore - etc .

But instead of denying democracy , they paint it as bravery on their part....not "stepping back" from the task . What crap.

18 Feb 2011 01:30p.m.

Ken wrote:

This Govt. like most previous Govts.of this country seem to think that selling assets that are not theirs to sell is the solution to N.Z's problems. Well I've got news for them! they either learn to budget with prudence and due diligence, or get out and let someone who can. It is making the right decisions at the right time. A major problem is waste of resource, and snouts at the trough.

18 Feb 2011 11:57a.m.

Henry wrote:

Prime Minister John Key says he only found out last week about the purchase of 34 new BMW 7 series cars and that was too late to turn the deal around.

The government has a "no surprises" policy but the Prime Minister said last week he was surprised to learn that 34 new BMWs have been purchased.

He said today he found out from his chauffeur.

"Well the first I heard last week when I was told."

But ONE News has found out that plans to replace the current three-year-old fleet were talked about in Ministerial briefing papers last year.

Documents obtained by ONE News show the new cars were mentioned in July last year and four National MPs sat on the committee that discussed them.

The documents said Ministerial Services planned to obtain replacement vehicles.

The government says the Ministry of Internal Affairs never told it about the deal until it was approved.

But this afternoon it was forced to admit there was communication between ministers late last year

TVNZ news has also uncovered the fact that John Key took one of these cars for a test drive in April of 2010, knowing that they were the replacement vehicles for the current limo fleet.

He has known about this deal for close on a year and is pretending that he had no knowledge.

So the question becomes... does John key ever tell the truth? and can he be trusted?... i think the evidence clearly shows that he barely ever tells the truth and most certainly cant be trusted.

17 Feb 2011 10:24p.m.

ha wrote:

The fact that it is 60%, when in the past it has been 80% shows that people are warming to the idea.

17 Feb 2011 09:38p.m.

davey wrote:

Now the Question is?How many rich supporters does KEY have? and 60% say no asset sales.Key will stay with the decision of the rich even if the Poll went up to 80% against.He just hates it when he gets his feathers ruffled.Any other time he is just a show off for his age,a rail spelt backwards,perhaps that is why he has shares in the rail.

17 Feb 2011 09:16p.m.

Julie wrote:

@ha

If you look at the comments against the government this year you will see an overwhelming drop in support.

60 percent against asset sales? well if National go ahead it will clearly show that they couldnt give a rats arse about what voters think.

They will bend over backwards for the rich who are a small minority... and yet when the majority speaks... well, they just dont care.

So lets vote together and throw out the trash.

17 Feb 2011 08:58p.m.

Anthony wrote:

Key is borrowing money and increasing New Zealands overseas debt to pay for the tax cuts that he gave to the rich.

If he were to take those tax cuts away we wouldnt have to sell assets that make a profit for the country.

It seems as if John Key has no real idea how to run the country that doesnt involve flogging off the family china to pay for it.

17 Feb 2011 08:44p.m.

Proud Kiwis, wrote:

At 60% against, the Hon.Prime Minister says no plans to back off!!At 88%(Anti-Smacking survey) National went ahead.

Are we really a Democracy?

When will this shameless, obscene and autocratic sale of our farms, our assets, our resources and our MANA stop?