Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9705] 
2.  
GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she stand by her statement that she believes the Land Transport Management Bill “is very good legislation. It is not the policy of this Government to put things ‘right’.”; if so has she communicated this view to the business and local government groups who have serious concerns with this bill? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes I stand by the statement. The Government is committed to fixing Auckland’s transport problems and not to imposing right-wing ideological prescriptions on them. I am sure the member would agree given that he believes that moving to the right is wrong and crazy and says that he cannot support it. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Given the strong commitment from the Prime Minister to fix the problems that are clearly wrong in Auckland is she concerned by the comments of the Employers and Manufacturers Association which said today: “This bill is a con-job being wrought on road users” and that her Government is “misleading road users into thinking the new law will help ease traffic congestion but all it will do is divert more taxes into non-road purposes.”? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: No I would not agree with a word of that. Effectively solving transport issues does require a multimodal approach. That means roads it means the public transport that rolls along them it means rail and it means alternatives to roading and demand management. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Prime Minister share the view that it is only proper that the Government releases the economic report it is preparing on petrol tax diversion before it imposes any additional costs on motorists as proposed under the Land Transport Management Bill; if she does share that view will she tell the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Transport in particular to stop sitting on their hands and get the report out so we can all digest it? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I understand the issues referred to are being covered in a more general piece of work that is being done and the Minister will be happy to release it when it is completed. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Since she stands by her statement that the Land Transport Management Bill is good legislation can she tell us the latest date on which the eastern highway will be completed or does she not take responsibility for getting Auckland moving? 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: She’s not a navvy! 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: As the Minister of Finance said no I am not a navvy; I cannot give that date. The matter has not been approved by Transit. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Has the Prime Minister had any advice that yesterday in the House Mr Brownlee was claiming he knew nothing about the Land Transport Management Bill and had not read it; if so will she make her officials available to brief him on it so he will not have to rely on the roading lobby for his information? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I have heard that such comments were made. Of course the Government would be delighted to make officials available to brief Mr Brownlee. My only other suggestion for him is that as he aspires to higher office perhaps he could hand over the transport job to someone better qualified like Maurice Williamson while Mr Brownlee prepares to move up the pecking order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: As the Prime Minister is going to make officials available to Mr Brownlee would she confirm that these officials will not be the same ones who were at the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee on the Land Transport Management Bill who claimed to have no idea of any report in respect of excise tax for petrol diversions or is this just a clear case where the Greens and the United Future party are determined to impose a road tolling regime on New Zealanders regardless? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I am certainly not aware that those two parties are prepared to impose a road tolling regime on New Zealanders regardless. However I am well aware of a minority report by the National Party on the bill that suggested that tolls should be able to be applied anywhere any time. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Noting that the Prime Minister has generously offered to make officials available to give me a briefing on this useless piece of legislation can she assure the House that those officials will be made available without the dead hand or agent of Heather Simpson present while the briefing is being given? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I am sure Ms Simpson will be delighted not to attend. Personally I would be very happy to do anything I can to help Mr Brownlee. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am overcome. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I was about to rule on the point of order but I too was overcome. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Despite her penchant of late to start speaking in the third person and giving herself all sorts of plaudits when did she become a miracle worker in the case of Mr Brownlee’s offer? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: It may take a miracle but they are known to happen.