Labour Lining Up Handouts for Funders

The Taxpayers' Union has slammed Labour's backing of a proposal to create a taxpayer-funded agency for union delegate training, calling it a misuse of public funds to benefit Labour’s union allies.

Taxpayers' Union spokesperson, Tory Relf, said:

"It is outrageous that Labour would use taxpayers' money to fund training for unions when those same unions fund Labour's political campaigns. This is a clear conflict of interest and would be an egregious overstep of government resources."

"Last year, we exposed how taxpayers forked out at least $871,000 a year for MBIE staff to do union work on taxpayer time. Now, we’re seeing Labour propose a taxpayer-funded agency to train unions. This is a pattern of wasteful spending to support Labour's union partners."

"The Public Service Administration’s recent attempts to smear New Zealand’s meat inspection standards by contacting foreign embassies are just another example of the damage these unions are causing, yet Labour want to reward them.”

“It’s time for Labour to stop prioritising their union backers at the expense of taxpayers.”