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© 2024 The Gisborne Herald

Privatisation costs us all

1 min read

It’s interesting that Dr Shane Reti has partial ownership and shares in private medical practices and facilities. These are declared individually or in blind trusts. https://wheretheystand.nz/people/shane-reti/interests 

No media seems to be bringing this up, even though his interests are far greater than the few shares owned by former minister Michael Wood. 

Usually if the National and Act parties defund public services, and pretend there are 14 levels of management when there aren’t, and budget shortfalls when it’s government choice, it leads to privatisation. 

Last time in government, food services (not in Gisborne thankfully), breast screening and various other auxiliary functions were privatised around New Zealand. That’s much more expensive than being funded directly. Private providers charge more as they redirect profit for their shareholders. 

In the United States people are bankrupted or die as they can’t afford healthcare, with the United Kingdom getting to that stage. 

Previous National governments have been working their way through public assets and every time they’re in government, we lose more ownership. 

Last time it was power generators and retailers, state houses (all 1140 in Tauranga) and part of Air NZ. Since then our prices for services and rents have increased. 

Luxon even said last week that he’s not averse to Kiwibank being sold. We have Kiwibank because we were getting ripped off by the Australian banks, thanks to Jim Anderton who was in a coalition with the Labour Party. 

Responsibility for water has been kept with councils, many of whom will struggle to cover the costs. Rates will go up by huge amounts (20% in Wellington) but if the councils can’t cover the costs, we could lose ownership. 

There’s also talk of toll roads being built under arrangement with private owners.  If services are provided by governments and councils, there is no need for profits. It’s as simple as that. 

Please, we can’t let these carpetbaggers take more of our assets and service roles. 

Mary-Ann de Kort 


5 comments

commenter avatar
Iain Boyle
0
31 July 2024
Thanks for the latest conspiracies from red radio.

One of the worst traits of socialists, & there are many, is they take no responsibility, as it is always someone else's fault (& always someone else's money).

Take a deep breath & consider for 6 years your govt almost destroyed this country. The irony is many of your complaints have direct lines to your govt.

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