Fenton Darien: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee 
Fenton Darien: Debate on Crown Entities Public Organisations and State Enterprises — In Committee 
[Volume:654;Page:3792] 
DARIEN FENTON (Labour) 
: 
 Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the financial review of Land Transport New Zealand. First of all I say to the Minister in the chair Steven Joyce that he is the one in Government so we get to ask the questions and he has to answer them. It was a bit confused there for a little while. I refer to the Government policy statement. Labour is criticising it. I want to criticise it in particular concerning public transport services infrastructure and the cutting of up to $335 million over the next 3 years. 
I ask the Minister why he has such a motorway fixation. The Government is roads mad. It is very interesting. I live in Auckland unlike many Government members and I have to get around Auckland. I know the issues. The Minister is on record as saying that Aucklanders do not use public transport—they go to work in their cars. Does he know why? It is because of the underfunding of public transport for decades prior to Labour becoming the Government. 
I have news for the Minister. Aucklanders do use public transport. They use the trains. The trains are used to capacity. The Northern Busway is used to capacity. Who was involved in building new infrastructure public transport infrastructure like the Northern Busway and the double tracking of the railways? It was the Labour Government. And people use them. 
I would like the Minister to answer a question. What does he think needs to be done about Auckland’s car ownership? There is a big problem in Auckland with car ownership. Auckland per capita has the second-highest car ownership in the world. On the North Shore car ownership is equal to the first-highest country. That is shocking. People have cars and when we build more roads people get on them in their cars. [ 
Interruption 
] That is true. “Crusher” might take care of a few of them. The more the Government builds roads the more they fill up with cars unless there are alternatives. Labour increased funding over many years by 15 times to fund public transport alternatives so that Aucklanders had a choice. But now we have a Government that has cut back that funding. 
What else has it done? It has cut the regional fuel tax; it has dumped it. That has left Auckland $200 million short. Where is the railway station in New Lynn? Where are the new ferry terminals? Where is the electrification of the railways? Where are the new railway stations and other forms of public transport infrastructure? I say to the Minister that they have been dumped. Aucklanders are extremely disappointed and extremely worried about it and they are desperate for alternatives and for the Minister to give them an answer to the question about the alternatives to driving on clogged motorways other than building more roads. 
He is “Tarmac Man”. At the moment there is a tarmac vision. [ 
Interruption 
] I thank the member for referring to cycleways because National is making a lot of its $50 million for a cycleway. [ 
Interruption 
] No “Crusher” will get their bikes if we are not careful! The $15 million that cyclists are losing was designated for making life safer for commuters. As we know making life safer for commuters gets cars off the road. It means one fewer car on the road and it means less pressure on our roading infrastructure. There is cleaner air people exercise more and communities are healthier. I do not think these simple facts are understood by National. 
In fact there was a great quote in the weekend from Christine Rose from the Auckland Regional Council. She said that we need a city run on fat not oil. Cyclists are trying to encourage this Government to build more safe cycleways throughout the city not across the country. 
The other question I have for the Minister is how he plans to ensure that by removing $41 million from previously budgeted spending on road policing over the next 3 years the road toll does not go up. I want to know what the Minister thinks his legacy will be in terms of road deaths.