Act New Zealand MP Simon Court vehemently denied the accusation from the southern trusts yesterday, saying he was an ‘‘advocate for greater freedom’’ for New Zealanders.
Mr Court visited Invercargill yesterday to have a meeting with ILT and Mataura Licensing Trust (MLT) leaders about his member’s Bill that if passed would abolish all alcohol licensing trusts.
The trusts are in West Auckland, Gore and Invercargill.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times after the meeting, he was surprised to hear how those businesses, in particular the ILT, were very diversified in their business models.
‘‘It reinforces my view that the monopoly protection is no longer required,’’ Mr Court said.
He proposed the Bill because the government was dealing with a ‘‘productivity crisis’’ as the country’s economy was performing very poorly, he said.
‘‘Wherever we find restrictions on competition, we’re seeking to address them. Whether that’s supermarkets or banks, we want to improve competition.’’
Both trusts said if the public wanted licensing trust privileges removed there would need to be a petition signed by at least 15% of people who lived in the area to trigger a vote.
However, Mr Court said that was not the point.
‘‘Removing monopolies is the right principled starting point and their consumers will decide, they will continue to have a vote - that vote is with their dollar.’’
ILT chief executive Chris Ramsay said yesterday the meeting had helped clarify the motivation for the private member’s Bill.
During the discussion, the trusts discovered Mr Court was ‘‘actively involved’’ in an action group that attempted to remove the West Auckland Licensing Trusts.
‘‘This attempt failed to reach the very small 15% threshold required for a public vote.
‘‘He obviously has a significant conflict of interest given this involvement with the action group.’’
They were pleased to note Mr Court had discovered first-hand the level of support for ILT and MLT in the community.
He highlighted ILT gave back $9million to the community last year.
‘‘The mechanism for change already exists - allowing our community to ensure the benefits of the licensing trust model are protected.’’
In a statement after the meeting, MLT chief executive Mark Paterson said the trusts believed the member’s Bill was a deliberate attempt to circumnavigate the lawful process that had stood the test of time.
The mechanism for change already existed, he said.
‘‘In all cases the stakeholders got to choose to remain closed or to open up. This is all we ask of the MP, that the people of Southland decide, not Parliament.
‘‘I firmly believe Mr Court is on a personal agenda to open up Waitakere and Portage and the two Southland trusts are collateral damage, caught up under the guise of being a ‘‘monopoly’’.
Approached for further comment, Mr Court said the licensing trusts lacked any understanding of what a conflict of interest was.
‘‘I make no apology for being a consistent advocate for greater freedom and choice for those living under licensing trust monopolies.
‘‘There is no conflict of interest in advocating to remove special monopoly privileges that advantage one business to the detriment of consumers and other businesses.’’
