John Key is suggesting that the government help fund a convention centre in Queenstown:
Speaking at Trenz in Auckland yesterday, Mr Key, who is also the Minister for Tourism, said government funding would not be ruled out.
He had yet to be asked for money towards the proposed facility but expected such a request to be forthcoming "from everything I hear every time I'm down there [in Queenstown]".
The proposed centre was estimated to cost about $50 million and cater for up to 1000 people.
But here's the kicker:
The Government would not fund the bulk of the centre, and it did not need to because it looked as though there were a number of interested parties, Mr Key said.
"But I'm not ruling out putting in some cash."
So John Key is going to throw taxpayer's money at a convention centre when its not actually needed, just so he can say that he did. Its pure pork, with no additional benefit to the people of New Zealand for that money. And meanwhile, he's cutting schools, hospitals, benefits, and public sector wages, all in the name of "the recession".
I can't think of a better illustration of what National is all about: shovelling money at business, while screwing over everybody else.
