Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brash Don: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:613;Page:9623] 
3.  
Dr DON BRASH (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does she stand by her statement that “the Government is preparing a major land transport package which will help address Auckland's congestion”; if so will the Government accept amendments to the Land Transport Management Bill to address the criticisms by Auckland business and local government interests that in its current form the bill will fail to deliver adequate solutions? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 Yes and no for good reason. I do note that the Mayor of Auckland has said that the bill now scores an eight out of 10 in achieving faster progress to equip Auckland with a modern integrated transport network. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that the bill has been described as “still not enough tools to urgently fix Auckland’s incomplete transport network” by the same mayor John Banks; “a red light to road users” by Business New Zealand; “almost hopeless” by the Employers and Manufacturers Association; and “bad news for the majority of New Zealanders” by the Automobile Association; if so will she consider amendments to address the concerns of those organisations? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I consider an 80 percent tick rate by the Mayor of Auckland to be very good and we are happy to keep talking with him about the other 20 percent. I also know that under this Government Auckland has at last got its fair share of transport funding. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What other reports has the Prime Minister seen on the Government’s work on Auckland transport issues? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Overall local government in Auckland has been very positive. The Mayor of Auckland has said that not only is very good progress being made on Auckland transport issues but that for the first time in 25 years we have a Government of a mind to engage with Auckland so that Auckland can address its problems. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: If any of that is remotely true why is the Government collecting $2.2 billion in all sorts of road taxes with the intention of repairing or constructing new roads yet giving Transfund almost less than half of that—$1.2 billion; why is she robbing the New Zealand motorist and road user in the way she is? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Every Government for a very long time including the one the member served in has taken more money off various road users in petrol and fuel levies than it has spent on roading. Not to do so would lead us to radically increase other forms of taxes which we are not prepared to do. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Given that earlier this year she described herself as “a straight shooter” who “tells it like it is” and who “leaves people in no doubt where she stands” were those answers to Dr Brash’s questions as straight shooting as she can manage or is it not true that she prefers to remove herself as far as possible from Auckland’s transport problems? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: As someone who with the exception of 1 year has lived in Auckland for the last 40 years I am very familiar with Auckland issues—more I might say than some in this House. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does the Prime Minister agree that the 21st century transport legislation negotiated between the Government and the Greens will do more for Auckland’s transport through proper funding of public transport alternatives to roading and demand reduction— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Mr Heatley will leave the Chamber. I said no interjecting during question time. Please repeat the question. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Why do you pick on our side for interjections when there have been numerous interjections around the House including one from the Minister immediately to your left that was clearly audible to everyone here? Surely he should be going as well. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will not have the member questioning my decision. I had given the one warning that I always give. That was not the first interjection; it was about the third. I ignored the other two but the third was made loudly. The member will leave. 
Phil Heatley withdrew from the Chamber. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Does the Prime Minister agree that the 21st century transport legislation negotiated between the Government and the Greens will do more for Auckland’s transport congestion through proper public transport demand management and alternatives to roading than the mindless pouring of concrete recommended by some other parties? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I do want to acknowledge the considerable assistance given by both the Greens and United Future on this legislation. I believe that it is good legislation because it goes beyond just narrowly looking at road to looking at all modes of transport including alternatives to transport. The fact that under this Government money for public transport has doubled I think is a triumph. 
Larry Baldock 
: What is her reaction to the group of major Auckland transport operators including the Auckland chamber of commerce that yesterday urged the Government to implement the Land Transport Management Bill with urgency so that further steps can be taken to achieve faster road network completion in Auckland? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I understand that the Minister of Transport had a very constructive meeting with that group yesterday. It is hoped to make great progress on this bill this week so that it can be got on with. 
Dr Don Brash 
: In light of the strong chorus of criticism of this bill will the Prime Minister take the advice of Mr Simon Carlaw chief executive of Business New Zealand to “take this legislation back off the Greens and put it right” or will she continue to ignore the advice of Auckland business and local body leaders about the shortcomings of this bill? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I believe it is very good legislation. It is not the policy of this Government to put things “right”. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: What is honest about a system that bleeds the motorist of over a billion dollars a year for her weirdo pet projects and is Mr Swain the Minister of Transport saying that whilst Auckland will not have tolls on its bridge Tauranga will? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: It is up to Tauranga to decide for itself. But can I say that the Government’s policy on funding transport is just as honest as the sentiment contained in the minority report from New Zealand First that advocated another 5c levy on petrol. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek to table that report so that the country might know the truth apart from what it has just heard from the Prime Minister. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that report. Is there any objection? There is. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does she support comments made by the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues the Hon Judith Tizard who opposes the eastern highway because it will give “the people in Howick an extra half-hour in bed”—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister will leave the Chamber. Members were warned about interjections. Please start again. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does she support comments made by the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues the Hon Judith Tizard who opposes the eastern highway because—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Hon Judith Tizard withdrew from the Chamber. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I will deal with the member when she returns to the Chamber. Please start again. 
Deborah Coddington 
: Does she support comments made by the Minister with responsibility for Auckland Issues the Hon Judith Tizard who opposes Auckland’s eastern highway because it will give “the people in Howick an extra half-hour in bed” or will it be left to Dr Brash and this party to solve Auckland’s transport problems? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The member for Auckland Central is an honourable member and she said she did not say that she opposed it. What I can say is that this Government takes a well-rounded view of land transport issues. Motorways are not the only solution. Demand management as the leader of the Green Party mentioned recently is an important ingredient. Frankly if the country had waited for the last National Government to solve Auckland’s transport problems it would still be waiting. 
Dr Don Brash 
: Can I seek the Prime Minister’s confirmation that she will not put Auckland’s traffic problems right but that they will be left as they are? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I note it took the member several minutes to drop to that particular pun. I have every intention of this Government fixing Auckland’s transport problems. 
Deborah Coddington 
: I seek leave to table a  
New Zealand Herald  
article by Bernard Orsman quoting the Hon Judith Tizard as stating the eastern highway was not the right solution “just so all the people in Howick can have an extra half-hour in bed”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is.