6. Roading—ProjectsHon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of TransportRoading—Projects6. Hon JUDITH COLLINS (National—Papakura) to the Minister of Transport: Which specific and identifiable roading projects are a priority for the Government?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): Thank you Mr Speaker. This Government is focused on getting better value for money from our transport investment and as such stopping the wasteful $2 billion option for the East-West Link and finding a more cost-effective alternative has been a priority. Another priority—Hon Judith Collins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question is very clear: which specific and identifiable roading projects are a priority for the Government? Not what isn't a priority for the Government.Mr SPEAKER: Yes and I was living in hope that the Minister might get to it.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The East-West Link is a priority for this Government just not the wasteful $2 billion option that was proposed by the—Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a very straight question. It does not require—and indeed more than that—any sort of a whack with a political connotation that the Minister's doing.Mr SPEAKER: I thought that once we asked for the intervention and had it it was a very straight answer. It was an indication of what was a priority and the fact that it's going to be slightly adjusted is something that is quite appropriate to say. I do want to remind the member that the general debate starts hopefully this afternoon—although at this rate it may be this evening.Hon Judith Collins: Does he support the current level of funding for roading projects?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The Government is currently in the process of putting together a new Government policy statement (GPS) on transport. The GPS will focus on getting the best value for money in transport investment. We will assess options on a level playing field whether that's roads public transport rail or coastal shipping. What we won't be doing is promising 10 projects worth $10.5 billion in a press release without a shred of economic analysis which is what the members on that side of the House did before the election.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question was: Does he support the current level of funding?" There was no addressing whatsoever in relation to funding.Mr SPEAKER: I listened carefully to the answer and it certainly did address the question. Maybe not in the yes/no way that the member wants but the member will know that yes/noes cannot be asked for.Hon Judith Collins: Is the Redoubt Road - Mill Road corridor project from Manukau and Flatbush to Papakura and Drury a priority for the Government and does he support its funding from the National Land Transport Fund? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! This might happen on morning television; it's not happening in here.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The Mill Road project is currently being considered by the Government in discussions with Auckland Council as part of the consideration of the first 10 years of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project. We're giving it serious consideration. We're very aware of the fact that Mill Road addresses a critical bottleneck in the southern corridor. It's one of many projects that we are currently considering.Marja Lubeck: Has he received any correspondence regarding unfunded roading projects?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Actually yes. I have received a number of queries from local communities about the Government's attitude towards $10.5 billion of unfunded roading projects promised by other parties. Let me be clear. The Government has not altered any existing funded project with the exception of the East-West Link where we're looking for a more cost effective option. But we will not be bound by the rash uncosted pork-barrel promises from that side of the House.Hon Simon Bridges: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It's quite clear from Speaker's ruling 159/5 that questions from one's own side should not be used to attack the Opposition. He made quite clear that was what he was doing when he mentioned a political party and referred then to the pork-barrel politics of a certain political party.Mr SPEAKER: I understand the point and I'll ask Ministers to take that into account in the tone of their replies when they are answering areas for which they are responsible including finding funding for projects.Hon David Bennett: Is the extension of the Waikato Expressway from Cambridge to the Kaimai Range a priority for the Government and does he support its funding from the National Land Transport Fund?Mr SPEAKER: And New Zealand First have lost another supplementary question Mr Ball.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: All projects are currently under consideration.Alastair Scott: Is the Manawatū Gorge road project a priority for the Government and does he support its funding from the National Land Transport Fund?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The replacement route on the Manawatū Gorge is a priority. It will be funded out of the National Land Transport Programme and we will do it. We will expedite it. We won't sit around for six years—like the former Government did—doing nothing. Andrew Falloon: Is the Christchurch to Ashburton road project a priority for the Government and does he support its funding from the National Land Transport Fund? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It's under consideration. Rt Hon Winston Peters: Could I ask the Minister would he not think it's natural that if someone was concerned about the Manawatū Gorge and was the local MP he'd actually turn up to the meeting when people were protesting about it? Mr SPEAKER: Order! Again it's not a matter for which the Minister has responsibility."