Hughes Darren: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
Hughes Darren: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
[Volume:653;Page:2457] 
Hon DARREN HUGHES (Labour) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak to the financial review of the Ministry of Transport and to follow on from the self-described “Minister of Conversation” the Hon Tim Groser. When I was listening to him speak about the Department of Conservation I found it hard to believe that he had delegated the entire thing to the Hon Kate Wilkinson. He seemed to be so keen on it—but there we are; that is not what the schedule of delegations revealed last week. 
 The period under review by the Committee of the whole House was a quite exciting period for the transport portfolio. Quite a lot of important decisions were made and there was vision and a strategic view about where the New Zealand transport sector could be heading. When we compare that period with the one we find ourselves in today we can see what a good period that was for New Zealand. Some true decisions were made across a whole range of issues that matter to the people the businesses and the community and social organisations in this country. That is the period that the Committee finds itself looking at. It seems that many of those very fine decisions and the direction we were heading in have been abandoned in the current period and the Committee should be asking the Government to account for that. 
Hon Members 
: Oh! 
Hon DARREN HUGHES 
: Members opposite laugh but when some of the figures are thrown out at them they will realise that the Government they are supporting has abandoned a balanced view towards transport. That is the great tragedy of this: they have allowed a balanced view—a view that looked at a whole range of forms of transport—to be thrown out the window. They laugh and throw off at that because they are interested in roads alone. 
Roads are a very critical part of the transport system for New Zealand. Every single member agrees with that but we say that it is not the only form of transport that is important. The Hon Parekura Horomia points out to me that it looks as though the only multimodal approach the Government is prepared to take is with regard to helicopters. When it comes to helicopters Tory Ministers cannot wait to climb into them. We know that the Minister of Education was unable to be held to account today because she was busy in a helicopter. Tim Groser made it a point of great privilege that he was in a helicopter and the Minister of Internal Affairs is leaving the Chamber right now to go in a helicopter—it may well be that he is bungy jumping from it rather than actually taking a trip. Of course the Minister of Transport has been going around the Wellington region in his helicopter presumably right along the fence line he sits on with regard to any decision about transport for the people of this region. So Mr Parekura Horomia is quite right in that respect. 
So what did the Minister inherit in terms of this financial review? He inherited a transport system that focused on how we can manage a system consistent with the environment. 
Hon Members 
: Oh! 
Hon DARREN HUGHES 
: The National members laugh and there is a smirk on the face of the Minister in the chair the Hon Steven Joyce. I am yet to work out whether that is a permanent affectation or whether it is in response to some of the points being made in the Committee. I guess time will tell in that respect. 
The previous Labour Government put sustainability at the front and centre of the transport sector and that has been thrown to one side by the way in which the Minister has a focus on roads only at the expense of public transport and alternatives to roading. 
I ask the Minster whether he is in support of the previous Government policy statement with regard to the halving of greenhouse gas emissions for the transport sector by 2040. That is what he has inherited in the financial review. He has inherited a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2040 and I would like to know from him whether he will meet that commitment and if so how he is planning to do it. 
I would also like him to explain to the Committee why he has cut $15 million of expenditure from cycleways and walkways as is shown in his very own ministerial Cabinet paper. The increase in that mode of transport has been cut by him when at the same time we are told by the Prime Minister that one of the great saviours from the global financial crisis will be a bicycle lane across New Zealand. Those of us who were up in time to watch  
Q 
+ 
A 
 on Sunday morning saw that the Minister of Finance had very interesting body language and quotes about that particular project. Once that idea was handed to John Key by a real estate agent—it had been given on the back of an envelope to the Mayor of Auckland who handed it to the Prime Minister—it became Government policy for the economic recovery. We are holding the Government to account on that and I would like to know from the Minister of Transport why he has reduced funding for cycle and walking facilities by $15 million which was projected in the Government policy statement. 
I would also like to know from him whether he is interested in safety on the roads. He has cut $50 million from future spending on road safety according to his recent announcement. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: How much? 
Hon DARREN HUGHES 
: He has cut $50 million. I would like to know from him whether he is in support of the moves by the previous Government to reduce the road toll in New Zealand.