NZ PM "dead wrong" about Ansett

Date: 05 March 2002

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark was "dead wrong" to label Ansett a lemon, according to the Australian Services Union.

ASU Branch Secretary Julie Bignell said Ms Clark's comments were offensive and insulting to the thousands of workers who were mourning the demise of Ansett.

"Helen Clark's comments are offensive, insulting, poorly timed and dead wrong," Ms Bignell said.

"It is surprising to hear her claims that Ansett was a lemon considering the recent bail-out of Air New Zealand by her government," she said.

"Ansett failed because it was poorly managed - and its management for the most part was Air New Zealand," she said.

"Ansett's workers were amazingly determined and committed, and Helen Clark's suggestion that the airline itself was a lemon is a nice one-liner but doesn't reflect the true situation," she said.

Ms Bignell said Ms Clark's remarks revealed the problems Ansett faced when the Australian government allowed Air New Zealand to take over the airline.

"In her comments, Helen Clark said Air New Zealand bought Ansett without any due diligence 'in order to keep Singapore Airlines out'," Ms Bignell said.

"Rather than prove the claim Ansett was a lemon, I think these comments expose some questionable management practices at Air New Zealand," she said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark this morning told ABC Radio that Ansett was "a lemon" with "quite considerable problems" before Air New Zealand purchased it.

For further information

Contact:	Matthew Collins
Union:	ASU Services
Contact Mobile:	0405 188 256
Email:	info@qld.asu.asn.au
WWW:	http://www.qld.asu.asn.au

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