6. Question No. 6—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 6—Transport6. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Have officials recommended a process for Auckland light rail that would have allowed all market participants the opportunity to bid for the delivery of the project and what is the most up-to-date estimate of the cost of the project he has received? Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): My officials have not and both the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and NZ Infra provided indicative costs in their proposals. That information is commercially sensitive within the current process. Chris Bishop: What was the approach recommended by officials when he was considering what became what he calls the twin-track process? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: The twin-track process was set up at the request of Cabinet so that the Government could decide on a delivery partner and a delivery model. The advice from Treasury and from the Ministry of Transport to Cabinet was that it was an unsolicited proposal and it should be dealt with in line with the Government procurement rules and that is exactly what is happening. Chris Bishop: Was the twin-track process the only option put forward by officials for Cabinet to consider? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Look when officials present advice to Cabinet on things like that they almost invariably present different solutions. I don't have the Cabinet paper in front of me. If the member wants to ask a specific question I'm happy to get that information for him but the recommended course of action that went to Cabinet from the Ministry of Transport in the paper that I took was the process that we have since undertaken. Chris Bishop: I'll ask again: was the twin-track process the only option put forward by officials? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I've answered the question. Chris Bishop: Why once it became clear that there was international interest in the Auckland light rail project did he not go back out to market and seek expressions of interest or at least test the wider market rather than simply put the NZTA proposal up against the unsolicited bid from NZ Infra? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Precisely because the advice from Treasury and the Ministry of Transport was that treating an unsolicited bid should be done in accordance with the Government procurement rules. That's what we've done. The member seems to be of the view that the opportunities to deliver the light rail project should be going out to the wider market but he seems to overlook the fact that once a delivery model and delivery partner has been selected there will be ample opportunity for New Zealand and overseas firms to bid for the design the construction and the delivery of the project. There will be plenty of opportunity for the private sector to bid for that work. Chris Bishop: Does he share the views of the leader of the New Zealand First Party the Rt Hon Winston Peters that the Auckland light rail project didn't make sense? Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I shouldn't have to point out that Mr Twyford is not responsible for the views of the New Zealand First Party—full stop. Hon Gerry Brownlee: He didn't ask him that—SPEAKER: No I'm prepared to rule on that. I think within his areas of responsibility he can indicate whether he agrees with a view that has been expressed. Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Well I don't have responsibility for the views of the Deputy Prime Minister when he's speaking as a spokesperson for New Zealand First but I'll say this: there's a Cabinet process under way there are different views between parties and within parties on this and any other issue and they will be worked through through the Cabinet process. Chris Bishop: Does he share the views of the leader of New Zealand First the Rt Hon Winston Peters that the Auckland light rail project has had a blow out in terms of costs and we all know that"? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I have no responsibility for those comments. SPEAKER: No that's—saying that the member has no responsibility—Hon Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is absolutely correct that the Minister doesn't have responsibility for the comments of the leader of New Zealand First. He can be asked to comment on them but he does not have a responsibility to do so. SPEAKER: That's—Hon Gerry Brownlee: Speaking to the point of order. Well I think the relevant point here is that Mr Peters clearly would not have made those statements without doing his homework as he's famed for. So he would know what he was saying and the question—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Yeah far more than you sunshine. Hon Gerry Brownlee: I beg your pardon—sorry? Was that—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Far more than you sunshine. Hon Gerry Brownlee: That must be worth three questions. He must—SPEAKER: And that works on the assumption Mr Brownlee that your point of order is a valid one and you'd better get to it pretty quickly. Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well it's always a helpful one and—SPEAKER: You're not from the Government—you're not here to help at the moment. Hon Gerry Brownlee: —and no one disputes that Mr Twyford has no responsibility for a New Zealand First position. However he was asked: does he share the view that the cost of the project has blown out? SPEAKER: Now—and I'll make it clear to Mr Twyford that in the Speakers' Rulings if one goes to Speaker's ruling 155/3 he can see it very clearly—he can be asked whether he agrees with a statement as long as that statement relates to something which is in his portfolio and that area whether or not it's helpful certainly does. Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Thank you Mr Speaker. I'm not going to venture a view because the matter is subject to a Cabinet process."