7 Feb 2012

Opposition MPs take aim over asset sales

6:01 pm on 7 February 2012

The Government has come under sustained attack from Opposition MPs over the issue of partial asset sales.

When Parliament resumed on Tuesday, MPs from the four opposition parties took advantage of the first Question Time of the year to raised the planned sell-off of shares in four state-owned energy companies.

Labour leader David Shearer called the Government's partial asset sales process "a shambles" and asked the Prime Minister whether his determination to push ahead is creating instability in his Government.

In reply, John Key rejected the claim, adding that the plan to sell shares will help the Government avoid debt.

Mr Key was adamant the Government could answer the Maori Party's concerns about maintaining Treaty obligations under the new legislation governing the sale and that the party would continue to support the Government until the next election.