Key John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Key John: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:612;Page:9264] 
12.  
JOHN KEY (National—Helensville) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Will he change the Land Transport Management Bill to ensure that it will in the Mayor of Auckland’s words contain “enough tools to urgently fix Auckland’s incomplete transport network”; if not why not? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 The Land Transport Management Bill does contain a number of new tools that will go some way to addressing Auckland’s transport issues including tolling and public-private partnerships. The Government is working with Auckland to identify other funding mechanisms that could be used to meet the region’s transport needs. Mayor Banks has described this process as “upbeat and constructive” following a recent joint forum in Wellington. 
John Key 
: At what point in the drafting of the bill and in negotiations with the Greens did the Minister get so disillusioned that he lobbied hard for strong submissions against his own bill and then was forced to set up the joint officials group? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: At no point. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What further comment if any has he seen from Auckland mayors on work between them and the Government to address Auckland’s transport problems? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: There has been a range of them. Mayor Banks said some very good progress is being made; Mayor George Wood said an important project was under way in the region looking at funding and planning for Auckland’s transport needs; Auckland regional councillor Catherine Harland said the bill was a step forward in improving transport in the region and takes on board some of the key points made in the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee’s submission earlier this year. 
Keith Locke 
: Can the Minister confirm that as well as roads we need better public transport walking and cycling facilities and demand management systems to complete the Auckland transport network and can he explain how the Land Transport Management Bill will assist in this as he did when he and I addressed the national cycling conference in Auckland last Friday? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I can confirm all the points in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part we have to take a multimodal approach. Simply relying on motorways is not going to solve the problem. Passenger transport is really important as well as other things like cycling and walking. All those things will help to resolve New Zealand’s transport problems. It is about time the National Party woke up to that fact. 
Paul Adams 
: Does the Minister look forward to working closely with United Future to ensure “enough tools to urgently fix Auckland’s transport network” are made available as soon as possible after the passage of the Land Transport Management Bill given that the passage of that bill will be the end of the Government’s transport-related obligations to the Greens? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I look forward to working constructively with United Future as we have worked constructively with the Greens. I look forward to working constructively with any parties looking to improve Auckland’s transport problems. But unfortunately that is never going to be with the National Party because it is totally destructive when it comes to these kinds of issues. 
John Key 
: Can the Minister confirm why he supports economic efficiency being substituted for environmental sustainability in the purpose of the bill or was he just in a green haze when he signed off on it? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: No there was no haze when it came to that. As that member rightly knows very good constructive discussions took place between a range of parties. We now have the word “efficiency” in the bill and I am sure the member will enthusiastically welcome such a measure. 
John Key 
: Why is Auckland having to wait for new legislation to fix its transport issues when the Minister has every opportunity to include them in the Land Transport Management Bill; and does that confirm that this Minister is prepared to put coalition negotiations ahead of fixing Aucklanders’ needs? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Absolutely not. The transport bill will address some of Auckland’s needs but it is not the only answer. As Mayor Banks says it is half the toolbox that is required and we are working on the other half. I note that the National Party in its 10 years in Government did not do one solitary thing about Auckland. It is a bit rich for members of that party after having done nothing for 10 years to come into this House vote against the petrol tax increase and now try to lecture us about transport. That is outrageous.