Genter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeGenter Julie Anne: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 19 June 2014. Volume:699;Page:18724. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green)to the Minister of Transport: Does the draft Government Policy Statement on transport funding identify any funding for the Auckland City Rail Link in the transport budget over the next decade?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport):The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport is produced in accordance with the Land Transport Management Act 2003. It covers a period of 10 years is released every 3 years and is released a year before it comes into effect. The first Government Policy Statement on Land Transport was produced in 2008 and was amended in 2009. The current Government Policy Statement on Land Transport was released in 2011 and the 2015 Government policy statement is now out for consultation. The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport has never mentioned funding for the Auckland electrification the Wellington electrification extension or the new electric trains for those networks. That funding was provided outside the National Land Transport Fund. The Government’s public statements and commitment to the City Rail Link can be relied on outside of the Government policy statement.Julie Anne Genter: If the Government is actually committed to funding the City Rail Link why is it not included in the transport budget over the next 10 years given the widespread benefits to Auckland commuters especially road users as it will free up the roads for those who need to drive?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The Government Policy Statement on Land Transport is a document that guides local authorities the New Zealand Transport Agency and regional councils throughout the country in their decisions about roading both in State highways and local roads and also public transport provision. It does not provide funding for the sort of infrastructure that the member is now saying she would like to see in it. If that is the case get out there win the election become part of the Government and change the 2003 Act.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I understand what the Minister has said. I am not sure whether he understood my question because my question was why it is not included.Mr SPEAKER: I heard the question. I am sure the Minister—Julie Anne Genter: It is a transport project.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I heard the question and I am sure the Minister did. It was why it is not included and the Minister has given a very full answer as to why not.Julie Anne Genter: Does he agree with his transport policy statement when it says “Liveable well connected cities are critical to our economic and social prosperity.”; if so why is his Government delaying the City Rail Link when this is essential to enable hundreds of thousands of Aucklanders to get around the city and to get the full economic benefits of a livable city?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: It will come as no surprise that I do agree with my own comments in the Government policy statement. I realise that for some members of the House agreeing with their own comments can be a very dangerous thing but all I can say to you Mr Speaker is that you know me. This is a project that is bigger than both of us. I have got my team here. Get on board.Julie Anne Genter: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The question did ask why the Government was delaying the City Rail Link—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member has been here now for a substantial length of time. She asked a supplementary question that included two questions. The Minister chose to address the first part of that question and did so.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table a chart. It is a table from the business case for the City Rail Link that shows that the majority of the transport benefits—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I need the source of the document.Julie Anne Genter: It is the APB&B. It is the central business district rail link study business case and it shows the majority—Mr SPEAKER: Order! On the basis that it may not be freely available to members and may be of some benefit to them I will put the leave. Leave is sought to table this particular document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Julie Anne Genter: Is the Minister aware of the statistics compiled by his ministry that show that road use has been declining in Auckland for 7 consecutive years now while public transport use walking and cycling have grown exponentially; if so why is he still prioritising the bulk of the funding on motorways which will make congestion worse?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: That is a very interesting graph—no doubt produced by someone in the Green Party—but it does have to be on a scale that is fairly representative. The reality is that over 80 percent of all land transport journeys taken in Auckland are taken on the road. We are delighted that public transport is starting to be more of a part of Aucklanders’ transport choice. That is why the Government has co-invested in the electrification and the new trains for that area and is committed to the rail link from 2020.Julie Anne Genter: Does the Minister realise that the reason so many Aucklanders are stuck in their cars and will continue to be stuck in their cars is precisely that his Government’s unbalanced transport spend is not investing enough in modern public transport and in safe walking and cycling and that if he did that it would not only take pressure off the roads but it would help get the economic benefits of a liveable city?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Well it is an interesting question because it sort of flies in the face of the previously introduced material. If road use has been falling for 7 years then that would mean there has been less inconvenience for people for 7 years but we all know that that is not the fact. There has to be a better roading network and the member can talk all she likes about walking and cycling. I have to go to China to find cycles that carry the sort of freight loads that we put on trucks. I do not want to see that in New Zealand.Julie Anne Genter: Point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have a point of order from Julie Anne Genter.Julie Anne Genter: I seek leave to table this graph showing how unbalanced the Government’s transport spend is for the next 10 years. [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I can sense from that that there is not even any point in my putting the leave.