The Prime Minister's attempt to dress up asset sales as "capital recycling" doesn't change what it really is - selling off New Zealanders' assets and losing public control.
"The PM's claims today that governments should 'recycle' assets ignores history and will be opposed.
"History shows us what really happens - we lose ownership, we lose control, and taxpayers end up footing the bill when privatisation fails," said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
"To talk about 'recycling' assets is offensive to the public sector workers who work hard to add value to public assets every day. This is just more of the same from a government which has laid off thousands of public sector workers.
"Christopher Luxon wants a 'mature conversation' about asset sales - well here it is: New Zealanders rejected this failed ideology in a citizens-initiated referendum in 2013 where two-thirds voted against asset sales.
"Kiwi Rail, Air New Zealand, the Bank of New Zealand - all required expensive bailouts and buy-backs after failed privatisations. Have we learnt nothing?
"The PM says governments need to 'refresh their holdings' - what New Zealand needs is a government that properly invests in and maintains public assets instead of running them down to justify selling them off.
"Asset sales are just short-term thinking that leave New Zealanders worse off in the long run. This isn't 'recycling' - it's a loss of ownership and control that we'll regret."
