8. Transport—Fuel Tax Modelling and ProjectsJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of TransportTransport—Fuel Tax Modelling and Projects8. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by all his statements actions and legislative drafting instructions on matters to do with fuel taxes?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): I do including my statement that The Opposition is asking us simultaneously to have less revenue run less debt and spend more. The maths [of that] just don't add up." National needs to come clean on what Auckland transport projects they would cut.Jami-Lee Ross: Did he consider the formal modelling carried out by the Ministry of Transport to assess the possible impact of price spreading prior to issuing drafting instructions for the regional fuel tax bill?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes we did consider the advice around price spreading and this Government has made very clear its attitude on price spreading to the fuel companies. We've initiated changes to the Commerce Act which will give the Commerce Commission more teeth to deal with anti-competitive behaviour. My colleague the Hon Megan Woods has called in BP to make very clear our attitude on anti-competitive behaviour. I've directed officials to monitor price spreading. I think that the fuel companies are in no doubt about our attitude to this.Jami-Lee Ross: Did he read the formal modelling carried out by the ministry to assess the possible impacts of price spreading?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What advice did he receive on the ability of the National Land Transport Programme to fund the promised projects when he came into office?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I was advised that the transport plan that I inherited contained $4.5 billion more spending than revenue and an 8.2c a litre increase in petrol excise and road-user charges would be needed just to balance the books. That didn't include the billions of dollars of unfunded expressways promised by the Opposition during the last election.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What projects does the regional fuel tax fund?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The regional fuel tax will lead to $4.3 billion worth of investment—$900 million for roading improvements and new roads $750 million for the Auckland-Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative busway $700 million for Mill Road and Penlink $550 million for road safety $400 million for electric trains $340 million for walking and cycling $330 million for bus improvements and an additional $300 million for other public transport infrastructure. Without the regional fuel tax there would be no money for these projects.Jami-Lee Ross: How does he reconcile his answers this afternoon that he firstly considered the modelling done on possible price spreading and read the modelling on possible price spreading when the answer given to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee for the Estimates to the question "What modelling has been done on the possible impact of price spreading as a result of regional fuel taxes?" was "No formal modelling has been carried out."?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well I'll have to go back and check the answer to that Estimates question. But my answer to the earlier question stands: there was advice on price spreading I read it and we subsequently made the decision to move ahead with the bill. Jami-Lee Ross: Is he in the habit of stating in the House that he has read advice on an issue when answers that—I've checked with the Clerk's Office—were provided by him to the select committee say no formal modelling was carried out? How can he say he read something but tell the select committee it didn't exist?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I told the member I'll go back and check the advice that was given to the select committee. But I'm telling him again that there was advice on price spreading as an issue. I read it and we subsequently made the decision to move ahead with the bill."