Wong Pansy: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Wong Pansy: Land Transport Amendment Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21353] 
PANSY WONG (National) 
: 
 I would have thought that the junior Labour whip would show a bit more interest in promoting road safety instead of trying to shut down the debate. I am very supportive of the objective of Part 1 which is to improve and enhance the enforcement provisions in the transport legislation. I am very interested in urging the Minister to take a call to reassure the New Zealand public that Land Transport New Zealand will exercise the provisions of the legislation. 
In my second reading speech I spoke about my concerns. Indeed many people talk to me about the slow process of investigating the conduct of other officers and driving instructors in that sector. We want to know how often an internal audit or an independent audit has been carried out. The public would not have confidence in enforcement of legislation if they perceive that Land Transport New Zealand would not take complaints seriously or if the sentence handed out to a testing officer who sold drivers licences was only 280 hours community service. That tarnishes New Zealand’s reputation as a country that does not stand for corrupt practices. 
I want to know what Land Transport New Zealand is doing in terms of working with the police or the Crown prosecutor. Are they working to review the light sentence that has been handed out? I understand that an investigation is under way in the same area about the conduct of testing officers or driving instructors. I think the Minister should take a call to reassure us after the House has spent time and resources to pass legislation that the enforcement agent will actually carry out the law and to assure parliamentarians such as myself that it is serious in enforcing this legislation. Otherwise why are we sitting here under urgency passing this legislation? Is it just to make politicians feel good? 
Hon Harry Duynhoven 
: The member knows that it’s not like that. 
PANSY WONG 
: The signs are good. The Minister seems to be ready to leap to his feet to assure us but I am not too sure why the Minister says he cannot. The Minister is paid to say he can instead of screaming from his seat that he cannot. I am not sure what the Minister can do. All we want is for the Minister to give us an assurance that the provisions in this Land Transport Amendment Bill will be taken seriously by Land Transport New Zealand because its past history of responding to complaints from the public has been very slow in coming forth. 
So I tell the Minister that we will be on this case. I have amendments for the Committee stage and I hope the Minister will take to them kindly. The signs are that other political parties would be supportive of my amendments which I will go into more detail during Part 2. So for me as my very learned colleague the Hon Maurice Williamson says who can argue against the purpose of promoting and enhancing road safety as well as enhancing the enforcement provisions? Surely the testing of that is in the actual implementation and the public’s perception that Land Transport New Zealand is responsive to complaints is diligent in carrying out independent audits and is perceived to be transparent and even-handed in its handling of the legislation.