12. Question No. 12—TransportTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 12—Transport12. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Transport): Yes including my statement that Auckland light rail was an irresponsible project that would have cost taxpayers up to $29.2 billion and which the last Government failed to deliver a single metre of track on despite spending $228 million on this project. We've already scrapped this wasteful project which is starting to address the last Government's $200 billion funding gap in the transport budget. Tangi Utikere: How does he reconcile his statement that he will not tax Aucklanders an additional 11.5c per litre on fuel to fund more cycle lanes redlight cameras speed [bumps] and lowering speed limits across the city" when Auckland Council information shows that of the total funding available for regional fuel tax projects safety and active transport initiatives represented just 16 percent of the regional fuel tax project spending? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well it's great to be talking about the regional fuel tax again in Parliament and how we're going to lower the cost of living for Aucklanders and I'd make the point to the member that there is a range of categories which we will not be funding which includes bus priority improvements bus infrastructure the cycling and the speed bump category—which comes under road safety—and active transport but we will be making sure that the remaining funding goes towards the projects which the mayor and I have discussed which includes the Eastern Busway the City Rail Link and local roading improvements. Tangi Utikere: Hmm. Why does the Minister consider it appropriate to rush through a bill under urgency to cancel the very revenue stream for a number of projects that Aucklanders are relying on—projects that Auckland Council have determined will meet the pressing needs that Auckland faces now and into the future—without any commitment to any additional new funding? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well this might sound really really radical but we went to the election with a campaign promise Aucklanders overwhelmingly voted for the coalition Government and we're delivering it. Tangi Utikere: Why won't the Minister give any certainty around what additional Government funding he will give to meet the clear shortfall that he has now left to Auckland Council to deliver on the very projects that they need? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well we've said the other projects are not priorities for this Government but we will ensure the remaining funding—over two years' worth of regional fuel tax money taxed from Aucklanders sitting in a bank account—will go towards delivering and completing the Eastern Busway the City Rail Link trains and stabling and local roading upgrades. Shanan Halbert: Does the Minister accept that Aucklanders saving 11.5c per litre means very little to them if they then face significant thousands of dollars in rates increases to fund investment in vital transport and water infrastructure projects or is he quite happy to continue to pull the rug out from under Mayor Wayne Brown? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well the Aucklanders—as I said they overwhelmingly voted for the coalition Government. We are delivering on our promises to provide cost of living relief for the motorists of Auckland and I'm not going to be lectured from an Opposition over there which wants to spend 11.5c per litre on speed bumps. Tangi Utikere: Will he guarantee right here right now that all stages of the Eastern Busway and the Glenvar Road - East Coast Road adjustment projects will be completed and if not why not? Hon SIMEON BROWN: We are allocating the money—the remaining $340 million—plus the money that will be collected between now and 1 July to those projects to make sure they are being delivered. Hon Chris Bishop: Does the Minister agree that it is unusual to see a Government—particularly in transport in light of recent history—promise something and then actually deliver it? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well as I've said—SPEAKER: No that's—no thank you. Tangi Utikere: Point of order. I seek leave to table a not publicly available table from Auckland Council that shows that the total percentage of safety and active transport initiatives make up 16 percent of regional fuel tax - enabled project spending. SPEAKER: Why is it not publicly available? Tangi Utikere: I'm advised that it is not publicly available. It has been obtained—SPEAKER: How did you—Tangi Utikere: —from me—SPEAKER: How did you get it? Tangi Utikere: —obtained by Auckland Council. [Interruption] Well the Minister earlier last week asked Auckland Council to get the information—so I did. SPEAKER: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.SPEAKER: That concludes oral questions."