5. Rail—EY Report Strike and InvestmentKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—List) to the Minister of TransportRail—EY Report Strike and Investment5. KIERAN McANULTY (Labour—List) to the Minister of Transport: Has he received any reports commissioned under the previous Government that show the value of investment in rail?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): Yes this report by EY shows the rail network generates $1.5 billion a year in benefits to New Zealand. The biggest gains go to road users who experience less congestion and fewer accidents thanks to the traffic taken off the road by rail. The report highlights the value of the Government's plans to invest in rail both in our cities and in the regions.Kieran McAnulty: Why is the report being released now?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well the Government has released the report this week because it greatly improves public understanding of the value of rail. Our policy is to get the most out of all transport modes not just one. What's hard to understand is why the past Government sat on this report for nearly a year. It's just the latest in many inconvenient facts hidden from the public under that former Government.Kieran McAnulty: Is it true as stated in commentary on release of this report that he has canned the East-West Link and shelved other major and important roading projects?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Actually no it's not. Those comments made by the Hon Judith Collins are incorrect.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. I'm not a transport expert but that's not related to this report that the member has had questions asked about.Hon Judith Collins: Does he agree the value of investment in rail requires the trains to run?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes.Hon Judith Collins: What's his message to the 30000 rail commuters who have been told that their share of investment in rail won't work tomorrow because the trains are on strike?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: My message to rail commuters affected by the strike is that they should ask some hard questions of the former Government who put in place—[Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I don't think we need to go much further here.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No well I think the member's answered the question.Jenny Marcroft: Will investing in rail assist our regions? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Yes. It will mean jobs it will mean better connections for business in the regions it will mean safer roads and less pollution. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: I'm going to ask all members to sit down and just give a little bit of coaching advice to the people who are asking the questions and possibly for those who are assisting them. It would have been a lot easier on that question if the member had an if so; why?" on the end because actually the Minister had answered the question when he said "Yes."Jenny Marcroft: What have the consequences been of years of underinvesting in rail?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: It means that the country is missing out on the benefits of rail as highlighted in the report. It means that freight transport is more expensive than it needs to be and businesses who are moving freight around the country have fewer options. A multimodal approach that treats road rail and shipping as part of one transport network for the good of this country's supply chain will benefit both the cities and the regions.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: What insights does he take from this report on the value of investment in rail in Auckland?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Thank you. The report finds that the people who gain most from rail are the road users who experience less congestion. This highlights the wisdom of the Government's plans to invest in both light rail and heavy rail in Auckland and to give Auckland the tools to help fund that investment. The alternative plan meant doing nothing and leaving Aucklanders sitting in traffic gridlock for 30 years.Hon Iain Lees-Galloway: What impact has the public transport operating model also known as PTOM had on investment in rail and the ability to ensure that the rail runs every day?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The public transport operating framework set up by the former Government has had the effect of driving down wages and conditions in the public transport sector and it's little wonder that workers in that industry are collectively bargaining to get better wages and conditions. This Government wants to see world-class public transport in our cities but not at the expense of the workers who run the system."