Twyford Phil: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
Twyford Phil: Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:657;Page:6565] 
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) 
: 
 I have been accused of scaremongering and fearmongering. Rodney Hide said it was a pretend debate and John Carter said it was a distraction. They were talking about privatisation. Why do they think that? Why do they not agree with what the rest of Aucklanders say? We know what the polls say: 85 percent of Aucklanders overwhelmingly oppose the privatisation of the water supply; 82 percent oppose selling assets like parks libraries and entertainment facilities; and 78 percent oppose the privatisation of ports and airports. Why are Aucklanders mistrustful of Rodney Hide? Why do they not like Rodney Hide? Why do they not believe him when he says he has no plans to privatise our assets? I will tell members why. The Prime Minister of this Government John Key said there will be no asset sales in this term of office. That really inspires a lot of confidence. 
Aucklanders have very recent experience of politicians on that side of the Chamber selling off their assets whether it is the airport the ports or John Banks’ selling off pensioner housing. The Government recently loosened the rules on overseas investments. What kind of signal does that send to an electorate that is concerned about privatisation? 
The Minister of Local Government recently said on  
Campbell Live 
: “I love privatisation.” But do you know what? He twisted the words of his own Prime Minister to try to deceive the television audience that there was no risk of privatisation. I will tell members what he said. Rodney Hide said to John Campbell: “The Prime Minister said no there will be no privatisation. He’s the Prime Minister. I’m not the Mayor of Auckland. I’m not part of the council.” John Campbell said: “But you’re being a tad disingenuous there.” Rodney Hide: “No I’m not.” Campbell: “Yes you are. The Prime Minister said there will be no privatisation of State assets.” Rodney Hide said: “Correct.” John Campbell said: “These are regional assets—quite a different thing not covered by what John Key was talking about.” Rodney Hide: “That’s right.” He crudely twisted the Prime Minister’s words to try to put the people off the track of privatisation. He is a Minister who not only says he loves privatisation but also says that he wants to privatise the Ports of Auckland now. Well at least he is open about it unlike members on that side of the Chamber. 
The thing is that monopoly infrastructure assets like the water company—the new water monopoly in Auckland—and like the airport shares have to be retained in public hands because they are a natural monopoly. We know from bitter experience that if they are put into private hands all we will see is monopoly rent-seeking behaviour. The only way to safeguard the public interest is for those assets to be held in public hands. 
The facilities of local government like parks libraries cultural facilities theatres and halls have to be in public ownership. They have to be managed in the public interest because that is the only way ratepayers and citizens have free and equal access to them. But that is the opposite of the philosophy of the member who is sitting in the chair Rodney Hide. His policy the policy of his party is that piped water and roading should be run on a fully commercial basis. That is straight out of ACT Party policy. And he wonders why Aucklanders are mistrustful and fearful of his nightmare vision of local government. 
Nikki Kaye 
: Oh oh! 
PHIL TWYFORD 
: Nikki Kaye thinks that that is scaremongering. Is it scaremongering? No it is not scaremongering and the test is in the eating because 80 percent of Aucklanders oppose privatisation of any description. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. We are getting near to the end of the time but this member’s point is about Aucklanders and I would I just point out that Nikki Kaye and I won our seats. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Lindsay Tisch) 
: No that is not a point of order. That is just interrupting the member. 
PHIL TWYFORD 
: If the members on the other side of the Chamber voted for our amendment they would protect Aucklanders’ assets by subjecting any privatisation efforts to a referendum. But do you know what? The leader of the ACT Party believes in referendums for every other thing in local government. He wants to force councils to hold referendums on any significant and irreversible decision. He wants them to have a referendum if they want to put up their rates beyond the rate of inflation. But does he want them to have a referendum on the future of Auckland’s assets? No. Why? I challenge the Minister to explain why he will not support a referendum on public assets.