Key's faux defence of Hillside shown up

John Key’s claim that he couldn’t keep Dunedin’s Hillside open as he would have had to compensate KiwiRail has been shown up as he is unable to reveal the cost of compensation, says Labour Dunedin South MP Clare Curran.

“John Key has told New Zealanders that he wanted to keep Hillside open but the only way to do so was to financially compensate KiwiRail. But today he wasn’t able to say how much that compensation would be, just shouting out ‘millions’.

“If John Key truly cared about the 90 Hillside workers who are losing their jobs then he would have asked KiwiRail’s Board hard questions on the cost of keeping Hillside open and what compensation would be. He either hasn’t done that or has had another brain fade.

“Either way it shows John Key’s supposed late ride to the rescue is nothing more than mock sincerity.

“We need to know what the compensation would be so we can make a proper economic assessment of the cost of keeping the workshops open.

“The workers of Hillside deserve better.”