Woodhouse Michael: Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4) — Referral of S.O.P. 10 to Transport and Industrial Relations Committee 
Woodhouse Michael: Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4) — Referral of S.O.P. 10 to Transport and Industrial Relations Committee 
[Volume:653;Page:2178] 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) 
: 
 I rise in support of the Government’s motion relating to the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4). It is quite surprising how wide ranging some of these debates have become on what started as a rather technical and minor amendment. 
 Nevertheless the amendment is very important as it preserves some aspects of the Land Transport Act and the Transport Act so I very strongly support it. 
The Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 4) has been my first opportunity as a member of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and as a new MP to participate in the very important democratic process of the consideration of submissions. Although this bill was introduced in I believe 2007 and certainly the submissions process was closed well before the election it is taxing the committee to some degree. Over the last fortnight the select committee has not always seen eye to eye on one or two particular issues but I think fellow members and particularly new members of the committee will agree that at least in relation to this bill there has been very strong positive and robust consideration of what on the face of it is pretty straightforward legislation. This will ensure and enhance the safety of road users and also the privacy of the information held by Land Transport New Zealand. 
As we dive into the detail—and as we know the devil is in the detail—some of the issues have become quite a bit more complex particularly around the legal issue of driving while impaired by illegal substances. It is not for me to reveal the select committee consideration because it is not completed so I will not. I assure the House that when the committee reports back it will be with a very considered opinion and the appropriate amendments. I can share with the House that I was the first and I hope the only member to undergo the drug impairment test—unlike the evidential alcohol test that some of my colleagues on the other side of the Chamber have historically gone through. I am pleased to report that I passed the test and I am very confident that anybody who has been under the influence of illegal substances would have a great deal of difficulty in doing so. In fact the odd tired and stressed MP might have difficulty passing the test even if he or she were not under the influence of narcotic substances. 
However the breadth of the debate now extends to this Government’s policies in respect of Auckland transport issues and it behoves me to make a few comments about them. I assure members that this Government is very concerned about and has a robust plan to improve Auckland’s transport including the transport hub. If anybody had cause for grievance it might—I repeat might—be the people who do not live in Auckland thanks to the headless chook approach of the member for Dunedin South Clare Curran. In a recent press release she certainly scared the horses in relation to regional transport impacts as a consequence of this Government’s response to the Auckland issue. I assure both that member and the good people of Dunedin that they need not worry one bit. They are very reasonable people— 
Grant Robertson 
: They elect Labour members. 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE 
: Not for long. 
Grant Robertson 
: Oh no! 
MICHAEL WOODHOUSE 
: Always the optimist. Those people understand that the regional transport plan will enhance the road transport infrastructure not only of Auckland but also of the rest of the country including the great city of Dunedin. 
I support this amendment. I look forward to it being included in the bill so the select committee can robustly consider it and report back to the House. 
Motion agreed to.