Headline: Greens send letter to Govt MPs over SkyCity deal
“The Government and SkyCity have also overstated the benefits from the harm minimisation measures required of SkyCIty by the deal,” said Mrs Turei.
The Green Party today released an open letter calling on all MPs currently supporting the SkyCity convention centre deal to look at the recently released information and rethink their support .
Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei outlined in her open letter that many MPs currently supporting the SkyCity deal are doing so without having had all the information they need to make a considered decision.
“National’s backbench MPs have been happy to support the SkyCity deal based on the fact it is going to provide jobs and economic growth,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said today.
“Reports released under the Official Information Act after the first reading debate show that the Government and Minister Joyce have significantly overstated the job opportunities.”
A NZIER report showed that due to other jobs being displaced throughout New Zealand as a result of the convention centre it would only create 18 additional new jobs.
“The Government and SkyCity have also overstated the benefits from the harm minimisation measures required of SkyCIty by the deal,” said Mrs Turei.
“The Ministry of Health considered it was doubtful that voluntary pre-commitment cards would work these haven’t worked in other jurisdictions.
“The Ministry of Health was also dubious at how successful having three extra staff on the host responsibility team was going to be without strict guidelines covering their responsibilities.
“Every week those who back this deal are getting more information showing that they are voting to increase human misery in exchange for few benefits.
“Only last week we discovered another hidden cost of this deal with TVNZ having to relocate staff and the taxpayer missing out on a dividend from TVNZ due to the expense of this move.
“I urge all National MPs to look at all the information that is now in the public domain and think very hard about whether they can still support this dirty deal after they have seen the full facts,” Mrs Turei said.
Link to Metiria Turei’s open letter:
https://www.greens.org.nz/features/open-letter-mps-metiria-turei-skycity-deal
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