Transport
The questions to each MP are:
1) Will you ensure that all tax collected from road users is used for roading?
2) Will you change the Land Transport Management Act to give higher priority to building and maintaining roads?
3) Will you change the Land Transport Management Act to make it easier for private sector investment in roads, including tolling by private companies?
Answers over the break:
Pete Hodgson, Labour
1) Funding for roads up 90%. Will put $1.2 billion from consolidated fund into transport. National will only put in $600 million over three years
2) No change to Act to give higher priority to roads. Need integrated system.
3) It is already permissive. Not taken up as projects not big enough.
Maurice Williamson, National
1) Yes (that was entire answer)
2) Yes and will amend RMA
3) Absolutely
Road need to be built not pushbike strategies. Some growth in public transport is good but most public transport is buses, and they use roads. Greens hate roads – we are pro-roads
Pointed out Labour claimed National’s $600 million petrol tax pledge was labelled dangerous and not possible from Labour. Yet now they are trying to out-pledge. Rebuked Hodgson for interjecting. Now showing graphs to counter Hodgson’s graphs.
Peter Brown, NZ First
1) Yes
2) Will do what is necessary for more roads.
3) No – against private sector involvement
Generally very pro-roading. Points out lack of funding by National in 1990s.
Roland Sapsford, Greens
Answers No, No and No
Why focus on completing plans created in 1950s – almost Soviet era planning. Need to give people a choice not to use a car. Quotes an old comment of Maurice in 1999 “You can not road build your way out of congestion”
Up to 1999 95% went on roading. Need innovation and break from the past. Says abolishing school zoning will be bad for congestion.
Ken Shirley, ACT
Answers Emphatic yes to each so 4 mins 55 seconds to talk generally.
What is fuel efficiency of two people on an 80 tonne railway wagon? Most people want neighbours to use public transport, not them. Only party which was against Kyoto when ratified.
Larry Baldock, United Future
1) Wants an increase but supports it being spent on all transport solutions
2) Wants a 10% cap on spending on public transport from transport fund
3) Yes.
Wants a highway from Kaitaia to Invercargill. Have passing lanes every five kms, then every three kms, and finally fill in the gaps.