Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Baldock Larry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9790] 
4.  
LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Finance 
: How much of the $1128 million “fuels excise and customs duty” that Transfund New Zealand estimates will be collected in the 2003-04 financial year is made up of “fuels excise” and how much is made up of “customs duty”? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 The breakdown from the Transfund estimate is that $912 million is excise duty and $216 million is customs duty. Treasury has slightly different estimates. 
Larry Baldock 
: Can the Minister give the House a clear statement whether there is any possibility that the Government will reallocate the entire 18.5c per litre in fuel excise tax currently allocated to the Crown account back into the National Land Transport Fund in the foreseeable future particularly in light of the recent financial forecast that the Budget surpluses may be reduced considerably? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: No. There is no prospect of that happening within the foreseeable future. It would certainly be fair to say that some possibility of diversion may occur depending upon the nature of Budget forecasts and the requirements for funding the Auckland roading system. 
John Key 
: Does the Minister of Finance think it is a good idea to spend an additional $800 million of petrol tax so that State Highway 20 a project running through the Prime Minister’s own electorate and one she once described as proceeding “over my dead body” can be built using tunnels; if so does he now consider that to be an expensive case of “under her dead body”? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I can assure the member that the Prime Minister is very much alive unlike his leader. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question had certain comments in it but I think the answer was out of order. The member will withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I withdraw and apologise. No we do not have accurate estimates on any of the individual components as I understand it of the Auckland roading network at this stage—one of the interesting features that has emerged from the officials’ exercise. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Can the Minister confirm to the House that if the total amount of money collected for the purpose of roading roading maintenance and upgrading and road safety—namely $2.25 billion—was used for that purpose then all these other funding arrangements supported by United Future would not be required? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: No. As I have pointed out many times that does not cover the full cost of roading. Some $1673 million of that goes into the National Land Transport Fund but as is well established the cost of capital for roading is not covered by the excise duty and other forms of income. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Can the Minister confirm that unlike previous increases in petrol tax the latest 4c increase voted in by Labour and the Greens and opposed by all other parties goes entirely into the National Land Transport Fund with the effect of lowering the proportion of total petrol tax diverted to the consolidated account compared with the previous regime that pertained under the National – New Zealand First Government? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Yes and I shall remain eternally grateful to the Greens for their cooperation in that regard. 
Larry Baldock 
: Can the Minister understand public concern about the allocation of fuel excise to the Crown account and their requests for accountability over this when the facts show that the Labour Government increased the amount of diversion in 1986 from 9.8c to 25.8c and the National Government in August 1991 increased it from 19.3c to 23.1c and will he confirm that this Government has no plans to increase the amount in a similar fashion? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Yes. As in many of these matters I do not intend to follow either Roger Douglas or Ruth Richardson. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: What amount does he think is collected from all areas in respect of roading in this country and why is that amount not spent on the purpose for which it is collected which is what the New Zealand road user wants to happen? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The member gave a pretty accurate estimate. My estimate was based on the Treasury figures not the Transfund figures. Transfund’s figure is $2246 million of which $1673 million goes into the National Land Transport Fund. But as I said the cost of capital is not taken account of in those simple cash sums. 
Larry Baldock 
: Is the Minister aware that in May 1998 the National - New Zealand First coalition Government made a small reduction in the amount diverted of 2.1c despite the fact that the leader of New Zealand First and Treasurer of the day had his own member’s bill drawn up that required all funds to be used for roads; if so does he think Winston Peters has any chance of achieving that goal in the near future? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That question is out of order. The Minister has no responsibility. 
Larry Baldock 
: I seek leave to table the member’s bill I mentioned. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the member’s bill referred to. Is there any objection? There is.