3. Transport Auckland—Funding and Auckland Transport Alignment Project ReportPHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister of TransportTransport Auckland—Funding and Auckland Transport Alignment Project ReportPHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū): My question is for the Minister of Transport: does he think Aucklanders should have the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the city's transport projects—[Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! I invite the member to start his question again. [Interruption] Order! I have asked for cooperation from my right. I now not only ask it; I am expecting it.3. PHIL TWYFORD (Labour—Te Atatū) to the Minister of Transport: Does he think Aucklanders should have the opportunity to contribute to the cost of the city's transport projects or does he think taxpayers throughout New Zealand should pay all the costs of Auckland's growth?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): The member may be interested to know that they do have the opportunity to contribute". It is called petrol taxes and road user charges where they [Interruption]—no; uh-uh—already contribute some $1.2 billion per annum. I do not think though that it is right to double down on that and put something like a more than $10c—actually probably much more given it is over $100 million a kilometre for Phil's "tram plan". It will be prone to cost overruns just keep taxing and spending. On this side of the House we think that we can with a strongly growing economy and with carefully managed budgets deliver large record-breaking projects in Auckland and all around New Zealand without more taxing and spending and taxing and taxing.Phil Twyford: Will he confirm that the Auckland Transport Alignment Project report due out later this month estimates an additional $2.9 billion is needed in the first decade because of faster than expected population growth?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: It is a confidential report I am sure the member has not seen but what I can say is that we are really confident that with the strong economic growth in Auckland and around New Zealand we can continue to see petrol excise and road-user charges revenue go up. We have got a strong Budget process—we have seen that in unprecedented new capital over the next 4 years. We can carefully manage that and continue to deliver and deliver without a whole lot of new taxes—I think two or maybe three in the last week and we would love to see how many more there will be from Labour before election time.Phil Twyford: I seek leave to table the Auckland Transport Alignment Project's yet-to-be-released report which details the blowout in transport spending.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that yet-to-be-released report. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There is.Phil Twyford: Simon it's here. You can have it mate.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Leave was sought; leave was denied. That is the end of the matter. [Interruption] Order! [Interruption] Order! Mr Bridges and Mr Joyce are here to answer questions not to interject when the questions are asked.Phil Twyford: How does he intend to pay for the funding gap this Auckland Transport Alignment Project now estimates at $5.9 billion for the first decade given that his Government has rejected every proposal from Auckland Council for additional funding sources?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I note that this is a report that has had extensive independent work from Auckland and Government officials without Ministers or the Mayor and the council involved and I think that is probably why it says that light rail to the airport is not needed in the first decade. Unlike what Phil Twyford says I am very confident that we can do the job that is required. We have already got strong revenue—Phil Twyford: How? How? Where is the money?Grant Robertson: Show us the money Simon. Show us the money?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Well I am telling you; I am telling you if you want to hear it—from petrol taxes and the road-user charges more than we thought and more coming in the forecast. We have got strong Budget growth and we also of course will expect to see the council contribute more.Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! There is no point in carrying on when the Opposition does not want to hear the answer to its own questions.Phil Twyford: Why did he not tell the public when he announced last week that he was bringing forward $2.6 billion worth of projects how he plans to fund that or is it just another unfunded election promise?Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! To one or two this is the last warning.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Coming from the party that will not even tell the people of New Zealand how much a water tax is going to be this is a bit rich. But let me explain very simply—last week for example $260 million from the Crown and future Budgets and capital already announced make it quite clear we have got the confidence to close the gap. To go through the petrol taxes—Phil Twyford: You're paying with confidence. Hon SIMON BRIDGES: No no. The petrol taxes the road-user charges which already see revenue growth much stronger than anticipated and more to come and also of course through the Budget—we are very confident now about our plans. We do not need a whole lot of new taxes—two or three already in this week—to do a good job.Phil Twyford: Given that Labour has offered a regional fuel tax targeted rates to capture value uplift infrastructure bonds and paying our fair share through the National Land Transport Fund why will he not be honest with New Zealanders and tell them where he is going to find the money to bridge a $5.9 billion funding gap? [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I want to hear the answer.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: I as I always am want to be incredibly honest to the Opposition and the people of New Zealand. Under that party over there there will be compulsory opportunities to contribute by Aucklanders all over the show. We have already seen two taxes from them this week possibly a capital gains tax as well. It is tax and spend and tax some more. On this side we manage our budgets responsibly and we do not need all the new taxes that we know Aucklanders and New Zealanders do not want or need."