Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGenter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 14 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14715. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) to theMinister of Transport: Does he stand by his statement that “I think climate change is something that has happened always so to simply come up and say it’s man-made is an interesting prospect”; and how does that view affect his decisions on transport investment?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport): Yes; it does not.Julie Anne Genter: How will spending the lion’s share—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order! Any member has a right to ask a supplementary question.Julie Anne Genter: How will spending the lion’s share of the transport budget on motorways that do not give New Zealanders choices to get around without using their car help reduce carbon emissions and futureproof our transport system?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Well it is an interesting question which relies on I think a couple of policy positions taken by the Green Party. Firstly it is actually drivers of cars who subsidise those who choose to use public transport. That is very clear. The second thing is that New Zealand’s transport emissions have been static for quite some time. The member will know that from her own investigations. Third roads of national significance for example where journey times are significantly cut do contribute to a reduced emissions profile.Julie Anne Genter: Can he name one place in the world where carbon emissions have reduced or where peak congestion has reduced as a result of new motorway construction?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: As far as I know I would be correct in saying—because there are no motorways there—the Antarctic.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am not sure that the Minister answered the question. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! We have a point of order which I want to hear in silence. What is the point of order?Julie Anne Genter: I am not sure that the Minister answered the question. Perhaps he did not hear it correctly.Mr SPEAKER: I invite the member to think about the question she asked. It was to name one place and the Minister named one place.Julie Anne Genter: Well the question was—I think he misheard with due respect.Mr SPEAKER: The Minister responded to one part of the question. The question has been addressed. I accept it was not to your satisfaction. The way forward is further supplementary questions.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The point of order is that there are roads in Antarctica and anybody who has been around knows that. How come—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a point of order. That is a matter of debate. Members can judge the adequacy of the answer and so can members of the public. I invite the member to continue if she has further supplementary questions.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this paper “The Fundamental Law of Road Congestion: A Comprehensive Review of US Cities” which shows that new motorway lanes do not reduce congestion or reduce emissions; they increase traffic.Mr SPEAKER: Is the document freely available already to members on the website?Julie Anne Genter: It is from theAmerican Economic Review published in 2011.Mr SPEAKER: I want the member to answer my question. Is it freely available already to members—Julie Anne Genter: It is behind a pay wall. It is a journal article—Mr SPEAKER: I will accept the request. Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Julie Anne Genter: If this Government is serious about the economy given the reality of climate change why will he not reprioritise investment to smart transport projects like the City Rail Link like safe walking and cycling and like other public transport projects that not only give New Zealanders more low-carbon choices and more affordable choices but also free up our existing roads?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: We have committed over $2 billion inside our current programme to public transport and on many of those things. [Interruption] It is beautiful—I congratulate the member on a fine morning’s work. Can I also say that where it is possible to put a cycleway alongside a road of national significance that is happening. But in the end what the member has to accept is that New Zealanders buy cars New Zealanders pay for the roads and New Zealanders actually expect to be able to use them.