Joyce Steven: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
Joyce Steven: Estimates Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:674;Page:20429] 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 We heard an interesting contribution from the previous speaker Gareth Hughes although I have to say that I have heard it all before. Of course he is from the party that has not seen a road it likes—ever—and it is unlikely to so we should probably just cope with that. He also has not seen a tax he does not like and in fact neither has anybody on that side of the Chamber. They love a new tax. It is not a good week until a new tax has been introduced according to that side of the Chamber. If it moves tax it. 
Of course the latest solution from the Greens is to add another tax in Auckland to go with all the other taxes that they want to add. Just think—if we actually had all the taxes that the left has advocated for over the last few months we would absolutely have a New Zealand that would look very very down in the mouth at this point instead of coming out of the recession which is what is happening right now. 
The other thing I should mention in response to the member is the great fiction that we are not investing in the railway business because of course we are and very very significantly. Again the member has not seen a train track he does not like in the same way that he has not seen a road he does like. But we are spending very significant sums not only in metro rail but also in seeking to turn round KiwiRail which as we know is a very very big challenge. The second quarter of a billion dollars of seed capital has gone into KiwiRail as a result of this Budget and there is a third one to come. It is a very very challenging turn-round; it was in very very poor shape and it will not be easy to do but effectively we are investing $4.6 billion over 10 years to turn round that organisation. 
Also the Government is investing very significant sums of money into Auckland metro commuter rail. Again it does not suit the member’s story but nevertheless it is occurring. 
Hon Shane Jones 
: Labour policy. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: No no. That is actually completely wrong I say to Shane Jones. The member needs to get that checked out. The reality is that Labour wanted to have a 10c a litre regional fuel tax in Auckland. That was Labour’s policy. We cancelled that tax and we put the money directly into the electrification. This Government has paid for the electrification that is currently being built in Auckland. That is slightly unpalatable for Labour; it would have rather had its 10c a litre regional fuel tax. I invite Labour members to campaign on that at the upcoming election because that would be very popular alongside the congestion tax that it is also promoting at the upcoming election! Motorists in Auckland will not be able to move because every 10 seconds there will be “ker-ching ker-ching” for Labour and the Greens. We cannot have that. 
We are making a very big investment and are working to invest in the electric trains alongside Auckland as well. And of course we are prepared to evaluate further projects including the central business district rail link but as the member will know if he takes off his rose-tinted glasses there is a lot of work to do in that area before that is ready to go. As for that fabled 20 percent increase in patronage—well if we take 20 percent of 1.5 percent then yes we are making good progress! But I do think it is great that all these people used the train on Saturday night. I think that is fantastic. Of course the price was pretty good but nevertheless they did and it is progress. We do need the train system to work well as we need the roads to work well. That is why one cannot take a blinkered approach to transport. 
That is also why the Government is investing very significant sums right across the transport system with the investments in the western ring route and the Hobsonville deviation which was opened this weekend. We have heard that the Victoria Park tunnel is ahead of plan and there are a number of other projects that are proceeding around the country. 
I would like to mention before I sit down the road safety policy because I think that is very important as well. Again it is about achieving outcomes. One interesting thing that people always say is that we should spend more on something. Actually we are spending better on road safety and we are getting better accountability. I do not know the reason exactly why we are at the lowest 12-month rolling road toll that New Zealand has ever had at this point. Certainly I do not think it is right as a Government to claim credit for that because a range of things have occurred. But it does include things like the price of fuel. It does include things like better enforcement initiatives. 
Sitting suspended from 6 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. 
Vote agreed to.