Release the agreement on $60m cement deal

The Taxpayers' Union is calling for the full terms of Golden Bay Cement's $60 million bailout to be released to the public.

Taxpayers’ Union spokesperson Tory Relf said:

“Taxpayers should not be kept in the dark about what they are paying for or how this deal was struck. Commercial sensitivity should not become a blanket excuse for withholding information when millions of taxpayer dollars are at stake.”

“Other critical and struggling emissions-intensive industries, such as pulp and paper, received nothing. Instead, the Government has picked a winner just months before an election, handing one of the country’s largest corporates a $60 million cheque. That sets a dangerous precedent.”

“Golden Bay Cement has already received EECA funding, and Parliament is considering legislation that would ease some ETS pressure through changes to industrial allocation rules. Yet Fletcher’s lobbyists have still secured another $60 million taxpayer top-up.”

“If this is such a good deal for taxpayers, the Government should have no problem releasing the full agreement. Until it does, the whole thing looks very fishy.”