Carter John: General Debate 
Carter John: General Debate 
[Volume:654;Page:3165] 
Hon JOHN CARTER (Minister of Civil Defence) 
: 
 It is interesting is it not that during question time Labour members made attempts to have questions and ask for a special debate about the Waterview Connection and then the Leader of the Opposition gets up and has 5 minutes to make a speech and does not focus at all on issues that matter to this nation other than to criticise a member of the Government. Quite honestly we have to ask what in the world this Labour Opposition is thinking when that is the level it can get to in debate. There are some important issues happening in New Zealand. Waterview Connection certainly is one of them and our Minister of Transport explained it well. 
I also tell the House that we have an issue called Auckland governance happening right now today and tomorrow. I would have thought the Leader of the Opposition would want to debate that issue but no he completely ignored it. Yesterday the Leader of the Opposition asked for a briefing on the legislation that is to be put through the House today and tomorrow. I was asked as I know something of the detail of the legislation to go and brief the Leader of the Opposition. It was arranged for 5.20 p.m. I turned up in the Opposition office and I waited and I waited. Finally at 5.30 p.m. I got not Mr Goff but the recycled member George Hawkins who came in. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think you will anticipate this. All members are honourable members and the description given of the member was not that. It is something that I think members will take offence at. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member is right. Members should not be referred to in that way. 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: The Hon George Hawkins who has been put back into his position was Minister of Local Government and is now Opposition spokesman on local government. 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: No he wasn’t. 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: Well actually he was. He was accompanied by one of the members of the Opposition Mr Twyford who has been demoted from 26 to 42. I thought the Leader of the Opposition would have actually wanted to know about what is in the legislation. But obviously it is not important enough for him to even bother attending the meeting at all. I would have thought that as it is such an important issue he would want to know what the Government is doing about the legislation. But no he is not interested does not care and could not have cared less. 
This is an important issue and this Government is taking it very seriously. But there are a couple of interesting things. Yesterday the Prime Minister answered a question and advised the House that the member of the Opposition Mr George Hawkins said he supported the Auckland Council concept for the region. Well that is great; it is nice to know that Mr Hawkins thinks that that is important as it should be. But then today we get a press release saying that Labour will oppose the super-city as it is called for Aucklanders having been consulted.  
Hon Member 
: Why? 
Hon JOHN CARTER 
: Because Labour says there is not enough consultation. But the fact is that there will be consultation on the second bill a select committee will be set up submissions will be called for the Local Government Commission will be asking for submissions; there will be so much opportunity for input from the Auckland public. This Government is interested in listening to what Aucklanders and other New Zealanders have to say on the reforms that are happening in Auckland. We will give everyone the opportunity to have the input. That is exactly what is going on. We are happy to brief people including the Opposition—[ 
Interruption 
] Well the bill itself just starts the process and they will have months between here and towards April and May of next year to actually have an input into the two pieces of legislation. I am not sure how much more the Opposition thinks it needs when it could not even turn up to a 20-minute meeting yesterday. 
Then of course we look at Ross Robertson who has made some comments to the effect that “Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better” but then went on to say: “We realise there are some Auckland-wide issues. Many such as water and sewage already have citywide solutions. I think a supercity to deal with citywide issues is needed.” He contradicts himself. Then after two members have said they support it Mr Twyford who is now No. 42 says his party has not yet decided what is going on. And so it goes on. 
But we keep on reading about the support for this Government on the Auckland reforms. I put out a story on behalf of Waitakere Mayor Mr Bob Harvey who apologised to Aucklanders because the leaders of Auckland have dropped the ball and said that we have needed to do something for the past 50 years and have not. This Government will do so.