Utikere Tangi; Brown SimeonTANGI UTIKERE (Labour—Palmerston North): Kia orana. Thank you Madam Chair. Can I just acknowledge the chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee Andy Foster and members that progressed this annual review. I think it's fair to say that it did inform some potential items for the committee's work schedule as well that we're all looking forward to working through.I have a number of questions for the Minister. The first is around public transport. The Minister has touched on that himself; he has effectively brought into this debate a forward-looking focus by talking about all of the things that the Government intends to actually do in terms of what's in the draft Government policy statement. That was not something that we actually looked at in the select committee but as the Minister has brought it into the debate I will effectively head down that path.The first is around public transport on the very day that the Government has cut or scrapped subsidies for those aged under 25. So my question to the Minister is: how will the Government meet goals around emissions reductions alongside continued incentivisation for public transport usage and whether or not he sees that there is a role in public transport subsidies? In essence how will this Government continue to support an increased use of public transport in New Zealand in light of the recent decisions that the Government has taken? So that's the first one.The second one is we also heard from the Ministry of Transport that the Clean Car Discount at the time saw an increase in the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs)—actually more than was anticipated and expected. So my question to the Minister is whether or not he accepts that the initiative did increase the uptake of EVs and if so what other initiatives are in the pipeline to ensure that something similar is going to happen? So that's question two.Question three is around the Climate Emergency Response Fund and whether or not he agrees that that fund provided an opportunity to make progress around a journey for emissions reduction targets within the sector and if so what particular progress has been made?The other question that I want to—and then I'll perhaps sit down—put to the Minister is in the area of the roading projects. During the hearing we did hear about the roads of National Party significance and that it would come at a minimum cost estimate of between $30 and $46 billion which leaves as the Minister has said a fiscal hole of $8 to $22 billion for him. He did reference the possibility in the hearing of funding and financing tools to meet transport infrastructure needs but he hadn't received any specific advice from Waka Kotahi at that stage. So my question is: has he reflected on that and if so how does he see himself progressing consideration of those funding and financing tools in particular to meet the apparent fiscal hole that he has in his transport plan?Hon SIMEON BROWN (Minister of Transport): Thank you to the member for those questions. The first question was in regards to public transport and as outlined in the draft Government policy statement on transport there is I think up to $2.3 billion allocated to public transport services as part of that draft Government policy statement. That is an adequate activity range class to ensure investment in the public transport services that New Zealanders need in order to make sure we are getting people where they need to go particularly in our larger urban centres where we need to make sure we're tackling congestion. And so that's a really important part of the draft Government policy statement on transport. I acknowledge the question also was in regards to concessions and I would note that there are a range of concessions which still exist in place which Auckland Transport Wellington and Christchurch have all put in place and there will continue to be concessions for those people. The Government will continue to support SuperGold Total Mobility and Community Connect for people who have community services cards and there will continue to be concessions for those on tertiary students students and children as well. And so there will continue to still be support for those people.Second question was in relation to the Clean Car Discount scheme and I would note he didn't talk about the tax side of the equation in terms of the question. The ute tax—the ute tax—of course this was the reverse Robin Hood scheme that the last Government thought was the best thing. Ultimately though I think what the last Government did was very good for Elon Musk. Elon Musk did very well out of it. I think it was something like $115 million of subsidies for Elon Musk. But the reality is this was also punishing our farmers and so we have axed the ute tax because ultimately—and also the other thing about that scheme: entirely financially unsustainable. Over $300 million of taxpayers' money put into the scheme—over $300 million of taxpayers' money put into that scheme which could have gone to health education law and order all of those other priorities. But instead the last Government thought subsidising people to buy a Tesla or a Porsche or some other type—they're all good cars; they're great but the reality is that's how the last Government prioritised that. People can make those choices and people will continue to make those choices but that's what the last Government chose to do instead; hundreds of millions of dollars.The third question in regards to the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the advice is that ultimately there's a range of different initiatives which fell within the CERF. Ultimately this Government is taking the view that the emissions trading scheme needs to do the heavy lifting when it comes to our emissions—[Interruption]CHAIRPERSON (Barbara Kuriger): Can I just ask for a little bit of order. Interjections are fine but the Minister might be answering questions that somebody wants to know the answer to. So interjections are fine but it's just too constant. Thank you. Honourable Minister keep going.Hon SIMEON BROWN: Thank you Madam Chair. Finally asking about roading projects and of course it's great to be talking about roading projects once again. Aas outlined in the draft Government policy statement on transport we will be looking at all funding and financing mechanisms in order to deliver the infrastructure that New Zealanders need just like they do in other countries.