Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8451] 
10.  
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Minister of Transport 
: Is he satisfied that the Land Transport Safety Authority is properly applying the licensing rules for small passenger service vehicles for hire or reward and what are the maximum penalties for operators operating vehicles which are incorrectly licensed? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 The reward aspect of hire and reward is a complex issue and has been the subject of much debate over the years. In this context I am satisfied that the Land Transport Safety Authority is properly applying the licensing rules for small passenger service vehicle operators. The maximum penalty for an incorrectly licensed vehicle is a $500 fine if it has the wrong class shown on the vehicle’s annual licence label. In terms of a person offering a passenger service without a passenger service operator’s licence the maximum penalties are for a first offence a maximum fine of $10000 and for a second or subsequent offence a maximum fine of $25000 and the court can order the surrender of the vehicle used in the unlicensed service for up to 90 days. 
Rodney Hide 
: How does he square his reply with the Land Transport Safety Authority deciding that the Government’s own VIP Transport service did not need to licence the Mercedes-Benz that it used to ferry around United Emirates airline staff last month because it was “a courtesy service” when the Minister in charge the Prime Minister says that she cannot answer parliamentary questions in this House about what cars were used at what cost because the transportation was provided on a “commercial basis” with the information being commercially sensitive? What is it: a courtesy service or a commercial deal? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I can easily reconcile my answer. I said it was a complex business right from the start. Having said that if the member has or is part of a complaint that is going into the Land Transport Safety Authority then it would not be appropriate to comment. If he has not then I suggest he takes it up with the Land Transport Safety Authority. 
Moana Mackey 
: What is the procedure if a member of the public has a complaint about the hire and reward licensing rules? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: Fortunately I have that with me. People can approach their local Land Transport Safety Authority office with the vehicle registration number. The Land Transport Safety Authority will check to see whether the driver holds the necessary licence and the Land Transport Safety Authority compliance staff in the regions will do any further investigation that is needed. The public also has the option of laying a complaint with the police who will liaise with the Land Transport Safety Authority to check licence details. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: Will the Minister undertake to the House today that he will investigate what the true facts are surrounding these allegations? Is it as the Land Transport Safety Authority has stated that the cars that VIP Transport service used were supplied as courtesy cars or is it as the Prime Minister has stated that they were supplied as part of a commercial contract? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: I understand that the Land Transport Safety Authority is currently looking into this matter so it would not be appropriate to comment any further. 
Rodney Hide 
: Does the Minister think it fair or reasonable that private sector operators like Jean-Michel Jefferson get weighed down with considerable cost and hassle to have their Mercedes-Benz vehicles meet Land Transport Safety Authority regulations when the VIP Transport service does not have to bother about that because following the complaint to the Land Transport Safety Authority the authority wrote back to Mr Jefferson and said that was a courtesy service and it was not investigating the complaint further; or is it the case as everyone suspects that VIP Transport is a special case because Prime Minister Helen Clark is in charge? 
Hon PAUL SWAIN 
: In answer to the last part absolutely not. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table the Land Transport Safety Authority’s response to the complaint. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek leave to table Prime Minister Helen Clark’s answer saying that contrary to the Land Transport Safety Authority’s view it was a commercial operation and she cannot answer questions. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.