Opposition MPs last night warned their National counterparts they'll end up in the political wilderness after the next election by partially selling off the state owned energy companies.
Opposition MPs last night warned their National counterparts they'll end up in the political wilderness after the next election by partially selling off the state owned energy companies.
The second reading of the Mixed Ownership Model Bill has passed through Parliament narrowly, 61 votes to 59.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says it'll be bye bye National come 2014.
"It's about treason, it's about treachery, it's about betrayal. This is the Benedict Arnold Bill. This Bill was rammed through the Select Committee."
Mr Peters was one of those who got stuck in.
"Remember this at 7.30 next election night, those members will remember this debate because they will be gone."
But National's Nick Smith reminded Winston Peters of comments he made about asset sales in 1998:
"We are very pleased with the most successful public sale."
Mr Smith pointed out there were 14 Labour MPs who were in the Cabinet that sold 49 percent of Spring Energy Coal, but now use extravagant language like treachery for exactly the same policy.
"And that just shows Mr Speaker how shallow as a birdbath members are opposite."
Labour's Clayton Cosgrove hit back, describing it as a dark day in New Zealand.
"Some of us in this parliament Sir went down that track and when we were elected to government some years later, we learnt from our experience, we actually bought assets back, we knew that the experiment did not work."
He says the Mixed Ownership Model Bill is rushed, shonky legislation and hopes people will have their say through a referendum.
"And even if they get one away, the people of New Zealand have got an opportunity to stop the rest and the second and the third and any more, and then I say Sir, boot 'em out in 2014."
The Bill now goes to committee stage, where Labour's expected to propose hundreds of amendments in an attempt to delay its passage.
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