8. Roading—Provincial Growth Fund and Local Government ProjectsHon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of Local GovernmentRoading—Provincial Growth Fund and Local Government Projects8. Hon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) to the Minister of Local Government: What discussions has she had with the Minister of Transport about any proposed changes to the funding assistance rates and any expectation of local government's share of projects funded under the scheme?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government): None.Hon Jacqui Dean: Is it her expectation as Minister of Local Government that councils who are missing out on new roading projects due to the $5 billion decline in State highway funding should apply to the Provincial Growth Fund to get the funding they need?SPEAKER: Order! I'm going to ask the member to repeat the question. I'm just trying to drive down to whether there's actually ministerial responsibility as opposed to expectations or views.Hon Jacqui Dean: Is it her expectation as Minister of Local Government that councils for whom she is the Minister who are missing out on new roading projects due to the $5 billion decline in State highway funding should apply to the Provincial Growth Fund to get the funding they need?SPEAKER: I'm going to allow the question but I am going to say that I think it's probably just over the line where I should have ruled it out.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. SPEAKER: A point of order the Hon Gerry—are you going to argue with my decision to allow it?Hon Gerry Brownlee: No I'm going to help you.SPEAKER: Ha! You're here to help yes.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Help you feel more comfortable about your decision. The matter in question—because it's not the last question around this—relates to statements that are in the Government's policy statement on transport and refers entirely to local government. That's why the opening question was in fact to find out how much the Minister knew about that.SPEAKER: Yeah I could understand the initial question but after that I'm not sure that they necessarily flow. There's clear ministerial responsibility for two Ministers Mr Twyford and Mr Jones but Nanaia Mahuta—I'm being generous seeing it's Thursday—can answer the question.Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: It is my expectation that local government and the local government sector will engage in feeding back on the Government policy statement on land transport. I'm encouraged by the fact that the Minister responsible for these issues the Hon Phil Twyford will be hosting a transport summit in Wellington on Monday 16 April and that's a very good way in which they can engage.Hon Jacqui Dean: What assurance can she give given her expectation that councils have to apply to the Provincial Growth Fund that all councils will be treated equally?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: My expectation is that the Government policy statement will reset the priorities as stated by the Minister responsible for transport to ensure that the long-term strategic view of what gets prioritised will lift the emphasis around safety and the funding for regional and local roads.Virginia Andersen: How will she represent local government interests during the development and implementation of the funding assistance rates (FAR)?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: The Government is concerned with costs facing local government and their local communities. I've already stated in this House that I am committed to undertaking a comprehensive review on this matter. My role as local government Minister is to have an overview of local government as a whole and to ensure that the relationship between central and local government operates well and in the context of a partnership. Within this approach I expect issues affecting local government to be managed appropriately between agencies and the local government sector. A partnership approach—SPEAKER: Order! It's too long.Hon Jacqui Dean: Where are councils not identified as surge regions" meant to turn to for assistance if they cannot meet the higher FAR contributions expected of them as stated on page 10 of the Government's new Government policy statement Q and A sheet this week?SPEAKER: No. Order! That's beyond the responsibility of this Minister. That's clearly roading and the Provincial Growth Fund neither of which is this Minister's responsibility. Question No. 9—David Seymour.David Seymour: Thank you Mr Speaker—Hon Gerry Brownlee: No no—supplementary. Supplementary.SPEAKER: A point of order.Hon Gerry Brownlee: No it's a supplementary.SPEAKER: No I've called Mr Seymour.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well I was calling for a supplementary when you—SPEAKER: Well I didn't hear the Minister—the member and I heard Mr Seymour.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well not many times you don't hear me Mr Speaker for goodness' sake!SPEAKER: I'm going to—Mr Seymour doesn't mind waiting?David Seymour: No problem. [Interruption]SPEAKER: Any further comment before I call Mr Brownlee again?Hon Gerry Brownlee: Would the Minister consider it appropriate within the expectations of the Local Government Act for councils that are struggling to meet the requirements of the FAR formula to make applications for funding from the Provincial Growth Fund to meet that difference?Hon NANAIA MAHUTA: Much of that policy responsibility falls outside of my portfolio."