5. Transport Infrastructure—Auckland Capital Programme and Regional Fuel TaxJAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of TransportTransport Infrastructure—Auckland Capital Programme and Regional Fuel Tax5. JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) to the Minister of Transport: Is he satisfied that the capital programme and the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax proposal cannot reasonably be fully funded from sources other than a regional fuel tax; if so why?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): The capital programme in Auckland Council's proposal for the regional fuel tax includes essential projects like Mill Road Penlink 200 kilometres of bus priority improvements the Eastern Busway in the Botany electorate and a number of new park and rides. I'm satisfied that we need to take urgent action to deal with the transport infrastructure deficit that we've inherited and the regional fuel tax is the most immediate and efficient way of funding the local share of these projects. Given the second reading of the bill passed unanimously in this House last night I'm glad that the member has finally come round.Jami-Lee Ross: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question used the words cannot reasonably be fully funded". Those words are lifted from the bill. There's a test in there that he'll have to apply at some point as Minister. He didn't answer the question and answer the question using those words.SPEAKER: I was listening carefully. I think towards the end he did use an expression about it being the most efficient and XY approach to it. It's not for me to judge the quality of the answer but there was one in there.Jami-Lee Ross: When did he ask the Mayor of Auckland if the mayor would keep his promise to find 3 to 6 percent savings in his own budget so that $150 million could be raised without needing a regional fuel tax?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well interestingly I have had those conversations with the mayor and I'm happy to advise the member that including the cost savings that he refers to Auckland Council's core operating costs have grown over the last 10 years at an average of 2 percent—more slowly than Auckland's population. By contrast infrastructure investment—that is mostly building more roads—has increased by 7.8 percent on average per year. The member cannot be seriously asking Auckland Council to cut roads to pay for other roads.Jami-Lee Ross: Did he ask his former colleague now the Mayor of Auckland to find $150 million within his own budget or was the first port of call a new tax?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I think I've answered that question. The member is suggesting that the funding the $150 million a year could be found by Auckland Council cutting its costs. The increase that he has regularly pointed to in Auckland Council's expenditure is infrastructure investment expenditure. It makes no sense to cut infrastructure to pay for more infrastructure. Jami-Lee Ross: Has he seen reports of the Mayor of Auckland's promise to find 3 to 6 percent savings in his own budget and if so why does he not expect the mayor to keep his promise rather than using a fuel tax instead?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I think I've answered that question but I am going to say this: we are the party of investment in growth. We want to see Auckland growing. We're prepared to make the big decisions to get ahead of the growth finally and put behind us the years of neglect that held back Auckland's growth and prosperity and led to the population of Auckland spending hundreds of hours every year sitting in gridlock because that party did nothing. Dr Deborah Russell: What effect will the capital programme and the regional fuel tax proposal have on congestion?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The projects in the capital programme for the regional fuel tax are a subset of the Auckland Transport Alignment Project which is the largest civil construction programme in New Zealand's history. The Auckland Transport Alignment Project is projected to keep congestion at 2016 levels despite an increase of 300000 people in Auckland. It will also make a massive difference to public transport travel times incentivising more people to take advantage of more efficient and reliable services. Dr Deborah Russell: What reports has he seen on the benefits that the projects funded by the regional fuel tax will have for the people of Botany?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well like all of Auckland the people of the Botany electorate will benefit immensely from the projects funded by the regional fuel tax. The fuel tax allows the building of the Eastern Busway between Panmure and Botany with stations at Pakuranga and Botany; plus we're building the Reeves Road flyover at the Pakuranga town centre. The Eastern Busway will more than double public transport ridership in the Botany electorate and there are also safety improvements on Botany Road - Ti Rakau Drive more buses between Botany and the airport a Botany bus station and park and ride. Jami-Lee Ross: Is he now telling the House that he supports the Reeves Road flyover that he told Generation Zero he wouldn't support?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I don't believe I ever told Generation Zero that I didn't support the road fly-over but I will tell you this: we are supporting Mill Road and Penlink as a result of this regional fuel tax—roading projects that that party asked for and campaigned for for nine years and never did a damned thing about.Jami-Lee Ross: Why should Aucklanders have to pay through their back pockets because this Minister won't stand up to the Mayor of Auckland and expect the mayor to keep his promises at the election? He's looking at fuel taxes but doesn't expect the mayor to do anything.Hon PHIL TWYFORD: We are committed to investing in Auckland's growth and prosperity and we're not going to engage in the kinds of white-anting and political game playing that delayed the City Rail Link by six years while that Government refused to make investments and refused to invest in Auckland's growth."