5. Transport Infrastructure—Fuel Tax Increase Proposals and Fuel PriceJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of TransportTransport Infrastructure—Fuel Tax Increase Proposals and Fuel Price5. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of Transport: Is the price of fuel a factor that he will be taking into consideration when he makes future decisions on fuel taxes; if so will he drop his proposals for increased fuel taxes if the price of fuel reaches $3 per litre?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): International oil price fluctuations have a far greater influence on petrol prices than the policy of the previous Government and this one of regular small increases in the petrol excise. When setting petrol taxes we must balance affordability and the infrastructure that New Zealand needs. Petrol taxes are what enable us to invest in regional roads safety improvements transport and rail.SPEAKER: Order! Now the member will stand and answer the second part of the question.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It's a hypothetical Mr Speaker.Jami-Lee Ross: Will he drop his proposals to increase fuel taxes if the price of petrol reaches $3 a litre?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: That is a hypothetical.Jami-Lee Ross: Has he seen reports that the price of fuel could reach $3 a litre or are those commentators just like the kids at Treasury"—disconnected from reality?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I have seen reports that between January and June 2015 petrol prices increased by 40c a litre. The then Minister Simon Bridges went ahead with an excise increase in July. SPEAKER: Order! Order!Jami-Lee Ross: Does he remain committed to higher fuel prices as he is proposing with his fuel tax increases?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I'm not committed to higher fuel prices but I am committed to making the investments that this country needs to deliver a 21st century transport system and invest in the growth in our country's biggest city which is currently crippled by nine years of under-investment and neglect. Jami-Lee Ross: If he's not committed to increasing fuel prices through increased taxation will he drop his proposals for increased fuel taxes in the face of record high fuel prices that we're now looking at?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Our Government is committed to making the investments that our country needs in a 21st century transport system. When that party was in Government they increased the fuel excise six times in nine years by 17c a litre at a time when petrol prices were going through the roof.Dr Deborah Russell: What alternatives are there to excise increases?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The reality is pretty simple. If we're going to have less revenue to pay for transport projects we would have to run more debt cancel more projects or both. The Opposition is asking us simultaneously to have less revenue run less debt and spend more. The maths just don't add up and all those demands came from the same party. That member Jami-Lee Ross needs to come clean and tell New Zealanders what projects he would cut. Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Has the Minister seen reports that between January and June 2015 petrol prices increased by 40c a litre but then Minister Simon Bridges went ahead with an excise increase in July? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I have seen reports that showed that petrol went up by 40c a litre during that period—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Thank you."