10. Question No. 10—TransportTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 10—Transport10. TANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North) to the Minister of Transport: How does he expect Auckland Council to meet the $1.2 billion funding hole over the next four years to meet the costs of transport projects that the regional fuel tax was to fund as priority projects for Auckland? Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Transport): I disagree with the member's assertion. Removing the Auckland regional fuel tax will save Aucklanders at the pump $150 million per year or $600 million over the next four years not the $1.2 billion mentioned. Around $341 million of regional fuel tax revenue remains unspent and the Government will ring-fence these funds to deliver the priority projects such as the Eastern Busway City Rail Link trains and local roads. If Auckland Council wants to continue to fund cycle lanes red-light cameras $500000 speed bumps and blanket speed limit reductions they are welcome to put that proposal forward to Aucklanders.Tangi Utikere: What percentage of the Auckland regional fuel tax revenue gathered to date has been used to fund projects such as cycle lanes red-light cameras and pedestrian crossings in Auckland?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well of the I think $700 million that has been raised to date around $340 million—almost half of it—remains unspent so that's a fail on the former Government. The second point is around over $100 million was spent on safety improvement projects which was basically speed bumps and then a whole lot of other bus lanes and cycle lanes received funding as well. What we want to focus that money—the remaining funding—on is the priority projects and not wasting it on low-value priorities. Tangi Utikere: Point of order Mr Speaker. That was a very specific question that followed the member's response to the primary. It was the Minister who cited some of the very items that I'd asked him in my first supplementary. It was a percentage—SPEAKER: OK ask it again—just move on. Tangi Utikere: Thank you sir. What percentage of the Auckland regional fuel tax revenue gathered to date has been used to fund projects such as cycle lanes red-light cameras and pedestrian crossings in Auckland? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well if you look at the amount which is allocated to various elements over $100 million is allocated to those particular initiatives but $300 million is unspent and I would encourage the member to put the formal percentage question to Auckland Council to get the finer detail. Hon James Shaw: Point of order Mr Speaker. Just to reiterate the point made by Tangi Utikere he did ask specifically about the money that has been spent and that was specific. The Minister did not address the question of what has been spent. He gave an answer about what had been allocated and unspent and that's a different question. SPEAKER: Well I think if you have a look at the Hansard record you'll find he started by saying on the points that were raised in the question around $100 million and I think that's a reasonable answer. Tangi Utikere: What commitment if any has the Minister given to Auckland Council about his Government's commitment to Auckland's transport infrastructure and what additional funding has he agreed to look into?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well thank you for the question. We are currently working through our Government policy statement on transport which will include investment in our roads of national significance which includes projects within Auckland. That Government talked a huge game when it came to Auckland and transport. Remember Auckland light rail—$228 million for consultants; no delivery. We're going to be a Government that delivers not just talks. Tangi Utikere: Point of order Mr Speaker. Apologies but again this is a very specific question to the Minister about commitments that he has given to Auckland Council. Now his rhetoric might be fine for himself but he has decided not to specifically address the question.SPEAKER: Well I think he addressed it by saying the Government is currently working through the national transport plan. Tangi Utikere: What does the Minister say in response to Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's view: this is a problem that can't be solved just by making cuts. Every Aucklander agrees that our transport system is a mess and it's going to cost a lot of money to fix. That money must come from somewhere. Unfortunately the Government has just made it a lot harder for us"?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well I say to the member that we are not going to be a Government which taxes Aucklanders to fund $500000 speed bumps—that is not our priority. We want to invest in the infrastructure which actually makes a difference and that means ring-fencing the remaining funds to the Eastern Busway the City Rail Link local roading projects and we'll have a range of funding and financing tools which help ensure we have the tools to deliver infrastructure across New Zealand for New Zealanders.Hon Nicola Willis: How much would an Aucklander driving for example a Toyota Hilux or a Toyota Corolla save every time they fill up at the pump thanks to this Government's focus on removing the regional fuel tax and helping address the cost of living? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well that's a very good question and this is all about the cost of living for Aucklanders. If someone's driving a Hilux they'll save around $9 every time they fill up their car; for someone who's driving a Corolla around $5 and that's money that won't be funding $500000 speed bumps in Auckland. Tangi Utikere: Is it in fact the case that his attempt to give relief at the pump on the one hand and his desire to take critical transport projects away with the other is because he has hit his own speed bump and wobbles and instead he is quite content on committing Auckland to more gridlock as a result of the Government's inability to fund our largest city's proposed transport projects?Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well the gridlock in Auckland was caused by that Government who spent six years saying they were going to deliver Auckland light rail—$228 million and nothing to deliver. The City Rail Link started by National will be completed by National. We electrified the Auckland rail network. We completed the motorway network. That Government did nothing for Auckland over six years.SPEAKER: Before I call the supplementary at the start of the last question there was talk on both sides of the House so it would have been difficult to single out anyone. I'm just saying again that if people are asking a question they get to ask it in silence. The honourable the honourable—oh forgotten it. The Hon Damien O'Connor.Hon Damien O'Connor: That's all right. I'm just a new member Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: Just for clarity I've known him since 19-whatever. Hon Damien O'Connor: Yeah the 1980s. OK we can't go back that far Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: No it was actually 1972. Anyway carry on. Hon Damien O'Connor: Can the Minister tell us the average price of a litre of 91 fuel in Auckland today and how that compares to the $2.95 that people are paying in Westport? Hon SIMEON BROWN: Well when I drove past the local Z on the way to the airport on Monday it was around $2.88 or $2.90 a litre for 91."