Bennett David: Road User Charges Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Bennett David: Road User Charges Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 07 February 2012. Volume:677;Page:134. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East) 
: 
 Thank you Darien for those very kind words. The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee approached this issue in a very committed and universal way in that we were genuinely looking at the issues that arose for truck drivers and other users and we were looking for a solution that was viable but also a solution that brought the industry along with the Government in making change. I think lessons had been learnt from the last time there was a road-user charges bill when demonstrations resulted from the industry not being part of the consultation and not feeling aligned with the Government changes. So the Minister and the Government made sure and ensured the role of the industry in the way that this bill was handled. I would like to thank members of the Opposition who were on that committee for the way that they assisted in that process as well. 
This bill the Road User Charges Bill has a very simple title as you would expect and it is commonly called “RUC” for those non-transport believers. Essentially it is a change in the system whereby vehicles will be accountable to pay their road-user charges by moving to one based on the maximum permissible on-road weight. The problem we had in the past is that drivers and companies often had to estimate the load. There were a number of compliance costs involved in that. It was hard to enforce and led to difficulties as people challenged what they perceived the weights to be. It was something that was a more difficult process than it needed to be. Now this process here moves it to a much simpler regime which everybody will understand and it will be very visible to people as they engage in this industry. It is one where the actual costs as the Opposition has said will be determined through regulation but that is the only way it can be done. You cannot expect this Parliament to set the costs here. That is why we have regulations and this is a prime example of an opportunity where regulations should be used and are being used by the Minister. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Why? 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Mr Jones asks why. Well if Mr Jones is the expert in this area and can dictate those figures now to the Committee we would like to see that but I am sure he cannot. The regulations will enable the ministry and also some fluidity if things have to change rather than having to change legislation every time. So Mr Jones there are some very good practical reasons. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Under urgency again. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: It will not be done under urgency because at this time we are not sitting under urgency Mr Jones and you see this bill is progressing through the Committee. With it being set by regulation that is a very important but vital and practical way of doing this. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: When will this man be a Minister? 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Well Mr Jones is sitting there and asking questions like that. Mr Jones we look forward to your input in this Committee going forward. Are you going to be involved and assist? 
Hon Nathan Guy 
: We know what he got up to. 
DAVID BENNETT 
: Maybe there were some regulations that were needed then but in essence this is a good bill. It is one that is necessary for the industry. It is something that the industry has been supportive of. There is never going to be anything perfect in these things; there is always going to be a little bit of room for movement. But that is why we have regulations. These look like they will be in the best interests of everybody going forward so that the Government gets its fair share of costs allocated to the industry for the use of the roads but also it gives certainty and simplicity to the industry so that they can carry on their business knowing full well what their costs will be doing it in a manner that they understand and being able to comply as easily as possible. Thank you.