9. Question No. 9—TransportCHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 9—Transport9. CHRIS BISHOP (National—Hutt South) to the Minister of Transport: Did officials recommend in the Cabinet paper released in June 2019 titled Progressing our plans to deliver light rail in Auckland" a process for Auckland light rail that would have allowed all market participants the opportunity to bid for the delivery of the project; and when if ever does he expect to take light rail to Cabinet next?Hon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister of Transport): One of the options presented to Cabinet would have allowed a full market process but there were a range of options and Cabinet was advised on the pros and cons and the trade-offs between them. It's not in the public interest to reveal the officials' recommended option as this matter is still being considered as part of both the commercial process and Cabinet decision-making. I expect to take a paper to Cabinet about light rail in the coming weeks.Chris Bishop: Was it the preferred approach of officials that there be a process for Auckland light rail that would've allowed all market participants the opportunity to bid for the delivery of the project?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Light rail is an important part of our Government's solution to Auckland's growth and congestion problems. Cabinet first gave the New Zealand Transport Agency leadership of this project then we received an unsolicited bid from NZ Infra and I thought that bid was worth serious consideration. I took to Cabinet a recommendation that we look at both of those options as part of a twin track process and this was following advice from officials that there were a number of options that could be taken at that time. We're now in the middle of that process. It's a commercial-in-confidence process. This Government believes in behaving ethically in business and in good-faith negotiations. We're not able to reveal the details until this process is complete as we must retain the integrity of both the commercial process and Cabinet decision-making.Chris Bishop: How does it affect the integrity of the commercial decision-making process to reveal that his officials' preferred approach was contrary to the one that Cabinet undertook?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Because we're in the middle of a process that was agreed by Cabinet the matters are subject to commercial probity and the Cabinet decision-making process is under way. We should let that process run its course. It's not in the public interest to reveal those matters at this time.Chris Bishop: Why will he not tell the public that Treasury and officials advised him to open up the process for Auckland light rail to wider market participants than just the Transport Agency and NZ Infra?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I've already explained that Treasury and the Ministry of Transport had input into the paper that set out a number of options including going out to the full market that the paper the advice that went to Cabinet included consideration of the pros and cons of those options and the trade-offs between them. Cabinet considered all the options and Cabinet took the decision to run the twin track process.Chris Bishop: Will Cabinet consider Auckland light rail after 19 June 2020 when the pre-election period commences?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: As the member probably knows well it would be unwise in a Cabinet process to put a precise date on that but as I've already said I intend to take the light rail paper to Cabinet in the coming weeks.Chris Bishop: Has he been advised of any risk that NZ Infra may choose to walk away given that he hasn't announced a delivery partner for Auckland light rail and as he's just said it has to be decided before Cabinet by 19 June?Hon PHIL TWYFORD: I'm not prepared to divulge the detail of a mountain of advice that was received on this matter but I think that if the member looks at reports that have been in the media in recent days quoting NZ Infra he'll see that his assertion doesn't hold weight."