Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Fitzsimons Jeanette: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:609;Page:6677] 
1. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: What will yesterday’s announcements regarding land transport funding do to help implement the New Zealand Transport Strategy? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 The land transport announcements yesterday take a major step towards meeting the objectives of the New Zealand Transport Strategy. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Besides road funding what initiatives to address the Government’s other priority areas such as promoting public transport walking and cycling to reduce congestion were contained in the national land transport programme announced yesterday? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The funding allocated in 2003-04 is a balance between maintaining and improving roading and promoting passenger transport alternatives to roading and walking and cycling. For example passenger transport has received $101 million for 2003-04 an increase of $16 million; and walking and cycling receive around $3.8 million which is a slight increase to resolve the broad problems of things like congestion in our major cities. 
Dave Hereora 
: What does this agreement mean for people in regions like South Canterbury Marlborough the Kapiti Coast and the Hawke’s Bay? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Quite a lot after years of neglect of those people. I am thrilled with the announcements from Transfund and Transit that for example the Awatere bridge will be replaced the Meeanee Road interchange will be built the McKay’s Crossing overbridge will be built and the Normanby realignment will start this year. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: Given United Future’s commitment to provide confidence and supply to the Government and with the construction of the Transmission Gully highway pivotal to that agreement how does the Government’s announcement which excludes Transmission Gully from its 10-year transport priorities ensure that United Future will continue to support his Government on confidence and supply motions? 
Gordon Copeland 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question relates to what was in United Future’s confidence and supply agreement which made no mention of Transmission Gully. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The question was asked. The Minister can comment. 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Quite easily. I saw a statement from Mr Dunne welcoming some of the initial stages in terms of the planning for that project and I am grateful for that support. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Has the Minister seen today’s  
New Zealand Herald 
 
page A5 which says that Auckland has gone from having 18 of the top 20 roading projects to just three; and could he inform us as to what Herculean efforts the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues Judith Tizard was responsible for in terms of this outcome? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I have seen that report. I have also seen reports that say that Auckland received 18 out of the top 54 places—most of that work done by the Herculean effort of the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues. 
Larry Baldock 
: Does the Minister agree that the Government’s objectives in the national land transport strategy could be achieved a whole lot more quickly if Transit could borrow against the projected income from Transfund to begin urgent projects now instead of more of the economic resources of our businesses being wasted due to congestion accidents and inefficiency across the country? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Yes I do agree with that. That is one of the issues being currently considered by the Government. 
Larry Baldock 
: Does the Minister agree that economic efficiency is the major key component of the national land transport strategy as stated in his speech last night and in comments this morning on National Radio when he said: “The Government is committed to improving the transport infrastructure so we can achieve our goal of returning the country’s living standards to the top half of the OECD.”; if so will he ensure that this will be reflected in the final version of the Land Transport Management Bill when it is passed this year? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I know that the member is aware that the transport strategy actually mentions five key objectives and those five key objectives are moving forward as a result of the announcements yesterday. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: When was the review of major projects first announced and what is the scope of this review? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The review was mentioned in the Speech from the Throne last year and it also is part of the “Moving Forward” package released last year. The scope of the review includes those projects costing over $20 million whose contracts have not been let and it is important that the review be completed by December. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Could the Minister tell us why this Government is entering a review as a result of an agreement with the Green Party a party that believes that people should walk to work—including themselves? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: The reason we agreed to the review was that the Green Party was the only party in Parliament that was prepared to support the 4c petrol increase. What that member wants is more roads but he is not prepared to pay for them. That is the problem he has got. 
Keith Locke 
: How will the Land Transport Management Bill help give further effect to the New Zealand Transport Strategy? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In a range of ways but most notably through the ability for tolling and public-private partnerships. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek leave to table a document that proves that for every $2 Mr Swain takes he spends less than $1 on the roads—that document being the Budget. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table the Budget. Is there any objection? There is. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I call question No. 2—the Hon Bill English. [ 
Interruption 
] I have called Mr English only. [ 
Interruption 
] I said I had called Mr English only. The member will now stand withdraw and apologise for that comment. 
Hon Chris Carter 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: And he will leave the Chamber. 
Hon Chris Carter withdrew from the Chamber.