Jones Dail: General Debates 
Jones Dail: General Debates 
[Volume:610;Page:7655] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 I am reminded of a bill that was introduced into this House between 1972 and 1975 by Mike Moore—the coastal moratorium bill. That socialist Labour Government was going to seize the coastline from all New Zealanders regardless of who they were. I gather from the Hon Mr Sutton that this Labour Government is to do that again. In a rather dull speech I could not work out precisely what he would say. However he told us about a report—and we all appreciate a report—and from what I can gather there is to be a report on that report before anything further is to be done. His speech typified for us this Government’s evasion of the main issues that face New Zealand today. The previous National Party speaker raised some of those issues. 
New Zealand First wants to raise the very important and immediate issue of the problem that is being experienced on the North Shore of Auckland in the Rodney District Council area and in Auckland City Manukau City and Franklin District with regard to rates. I had the privilege of being at a meeting with the North Shore City Council on Friday where I made it quite clear to the meeting that it is the view of New Zealand First in so far as road taxes and suchlike are concerned that we intend to phase them down and out—especially the excise tax that goes into the consolidated account—and to provide for more financial resources for roading and other transport areas. That is the firm policy of New Zealand First. 
At the moment for the year ended June 2002 the Government has collected $1.642 billion from roading charges. It spends $940 million. That is a sheer profit of $700 million. In addition the Government has been collecting a figure of $220 million in the tax for roading improvements in Auckland. Do members remember that tax? It was to be on for 12 months but the Government has now extended it again. Where is that money? It is sitting in the bank. The Government has now told us that that money will go into the consolidated account to be used for other purposes. That money should be used immediately for the $27 million—yes only $27 million—that is needed to help out all those workers pensioners domestic purposes beneficiaries and other people in Auckland including the people who rent homes who find that their outgoings will go up as a result of the Auckland Regional Council’s levy. 
We heard the so-called Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues say that improvements to the road transport system to bus transport and to the rail transport system are necessary. If that is necessary what will this Government do about it? New Zealand First is very clear in saying we would make that $27 million available from the roading account. The situation is that the rates to be collected are going up from $75 million to $102 million. That is $27 million more. Next year they will go up by another $18 million on top of that $27 million. Next year pensioners and the like in Auckland will have to find not an additional $27 million but $45 million. Where will that money come from? This Government does not care in the slightest. 
The National Party told us at that meeting with the North Shore City Council that it had no intention of drawing money from the consolidated account. The Labour Party said the same. New Zealand First is here to fix this problem; we intend to fix it. There is only one way it can be fixed immediately. The Government should back up the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues although she seems to think that the answer to this problem is for people to get out of Auckland and go somewhere else even though the Minister for Social Development and Employment tells us that they must not go anywhere else because they will not be assisted by the Government with benefits and suchlike if they do go elsewhere. 
Aucklanders are in a cleft stick. Everyone says we should have the bus and rail transport system but who will pay for it? Will it be the elderly the sick the people who have children whom they are bringing up on benefits the workers and suchlike? This Labour Government does not give a darn about workers any more—the workers of Auckland in west Auckland in Waitakere City and all those Maori people. John Tamihere is laughing now. He is laughing at the Maori people in west Auckland and at all west Auckland people whoever they may be who are struggling to find an extra $200 to $300 a year for rates. They cannot pay the school fees to send their children to the local schools. This minority Labour Government with John Tamihere Lynne Pillay and the like is not prepared to help the workers of west Auckland North Shore or anywhere else. 
New Zealand First would do that immediately. It has been our policy for years and years. It is not something that we have just dreamt up; we have always said that we would do that. It is the only way to solve the problem. There is no point in talking about amending the rating legislation looking at infrastructures and looking at this and that. It needs dollars and cents—cash. The money is there. The Government has a $1 billion surplus. We want some answers from John Tamihere.