Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Hughes Darren: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:653;Page:2143] 
8.  
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Does he support measures that are alternatives to roading? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 Yes I support transport infrastructure investments that make at least some sort of economic sense—which I appreciate might be too narrow a range of possibilities for the member opposite. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I saw you thinking slightly there and I think I know what you were thinking. The question was actually very simple and straightforward and we got a slightly spinny answer back. It was a political whack and you are taking rather a hard line on political whacks where there is not an invitation for one in the first place. I totally agree that when a member leads with a political nose he or she can expect one to come straight back. In this case the question did not seek that kind of response. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I invite the Minister to offer the House an answer to the question that the member asked. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: As I said I support transport infrastructure investments that make at least some sort of economic sense. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Did the Minister consult John Key when he cut 90 percent of projected spending on coastal shipping recently given that Mr Key had said that an integrated structure for moving freight around the country consisting of roading and rail as well as coastal shipping was something he supported; if so how does he reconcile that broken promise? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: There were a number of questions there. The Government policy statement was consulted on with Cabinet. 
Todd McClay 
: Who has been the most critical of last week’s transport announcements? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I have seen numerous reports from one individual last week whose criticisms could be summed up as saying variously that our announcements were too little then too much too little again then too much again too early then too little then too much and then too late. The Hon Darren Hughes seems to be of the view that a new Government should be bound to continue with all the policies of the previous Government which was thrown out of office. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: Does the Minister agree that as a matter of principle it would be unacceptable for a public transport provider to be chosen as the provider of integrated ticketing in Auckland given that such a contract could allow the provider access to commercial information properly belonging to commercial competitors? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: Integrated ticketing is currently subject to a tender and funding decision from the New Zealand Transport Agency. I do not think it would be appropriate for me as Minister to comment further. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: What issues were raised with the Minister on the two occasions he met with Infratil and NZ Bus since taking office and while it was tendering for the Auckland contract in relation to integrated ticketing? 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: The representatives of NZ Bus and a number of other bus companies I have spoken to have raised a number of issues around the operation of the public transport system.