executive of the ministry of arts, culture and heritage about
this issue in case he chose to
convey that message as well. Question
No. 3.
My
My question is to the Prime
Mr
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker, yes. What is her justification for gutting
from regional New Zealand in order to make public transport cheaper
for
Order! I am going to ask the Leader of the Opposition to ask that
question again in
a parliamentary form. What is her justification for
reducing
form. What is her justification for
Zealand funding and roading in order to make public transport cheaper
for
member asked that question. We're not. In fact, what we are doing is
instead of spending money that
not. In fact, what we are doing is
transport users use, as that Government did, we are investing
in regional and local roads, in fact,
doubling the amount of investment in
regional and local roading.
doubling the amount of investment in regional and local roading. Is the
regional and local roading. Is the
State Highway improvements class
reducing
State Highway improvements class
10 years and the various public transport classes increasing
by around
transport classes increasing by
Order! No, the member will resume his seat. That question is ruled
out.
his seat. That question is ruled
No, the PM can't respond. I let the Deputy PM last week and we got into
all sorts of trouble. Is the
State Highway improvements class declining
by
Highway improvements class declining
and the various public transport classes increasing by
billion and if so, why doesn't the PM state that
billion and if so, why doesn't the
who was intimately involved in transport, that member
should know that that class was focused on urban
centres, not regional roads. We are
decreasing an area that our regional
road users did not benefit from
in order to double
the funding that they will benefit from. Not true!
Why are people in Northland, the Waikato
Why are people in Northland, the
pay 12 cents a litre more for their petrol yet seeing no
benefit at all as their key projects,
which would have supported local jobs and growth
are stalled,
are stalled, cancelled or postponed
investment in regional roading for people who live in those areas. They
will see a benefit. Can I
also point out...
Order! That the last Government spent increased excise by
17 cents and they spend it on
urban centres and roads that
and they spend it on urban centres
The Rt Hon Winston Peters. Speaking about investment and
sound investment more
investment more road users...
the past and as a result of that the Opposition have just lost
three supplementaries. The Deputy PM will
start his question again, preferably
in a question form. Addressing
the issue of financial investment
and value for money, is it a fact that
of the three toll roads in
this country, two
of the three toll roads in this
point of order. Addressing is not starting a question with
a question. And I will
starting a question with a question.
know be absolute in my tightening up for all members, I'm willing to
take that
for all members, I'm willing to take for
for all members, I'm willing to take that approach. Yesterday, twice, you
pulled the Leader of
the Opposition up for exactly that. Now surely the
up for exactly that. Now surely the
Deputy PM who often touts his vastly
significantly more experienced
than the Leader of the
Opposition should know that. I will rule that question
out. I'm sure the Deputy PM
will ask it again in the proper
format. Could the PM advise has to how the
latest expenditure compares with recent
roading
expenditure compares with recent
When it comes to the regions, as When it comes to the regions, as
I've said, it represents a
significant increase when you
compare that to Simon Bridges's
legacy as a Transport Minister, he
legacy as a Transport Minister, he
reduced funding to the West Coast
by
million, Southland by 56, out taco by 110, Northland by 185, Hawke's
Bay by 88 and Bay of Plenty by
the regional improvements cat by nationwide
the regional improvements cat by
NZTA's 14 regions in anyway compensate for taking away
NZTA's 14 regions in anyway
billion from State Highway billion from State Highway
again, State Highway construction that benefited urban centres
and took money out of the regions,
and as I've said, we are doubling
the funding to the regions and local
funding to the regions and local
roads. Our focus is on access for
regional New Zealanders as well,
unlike the abysmal
track record of that member who cut funding for
the regions.
that member who cut funding for the
Order! You are not seals. How will announcing petrol tax increases
on Auckland motorists of 25 cents
per litre in just
her first six months as PM help
families supporting their
National they would be facing up to 20 cents
20 cents based on the last advice.
How many hours will someone on the minimum wage in Auckland have to
work in order to come
out ahead after they have filled up
work in order to come out ahead
1 April. We intend to raise it by 2021
1 April. We intend to raise it by
than 300,000 families will on average get
than 300,000 families will on
Government because we are focused on lifting the Waynes of
doing to help families with the cost of living given the Government has
made renting more expensive and
petrol more expensive and
the
fact that we are getting rid of letting fees or the fact that we
have
letting fees or the fact that we
July or we are bringing in the Winter Energy
Winter Energy Payment for those on low fixed incomes or the fact
that we increased the minimum
wage and we did all of that within
100 days I think
think people know where our priorities are and they are not
with the top
priorities are and they are not with
does a petrol tax increase square with her Government's promise to
New Zealanders to not
increase taxes
stated alcohol, Brett roll and tobacco levies will be adjusted
as per normal Government
practice and it's in writing. What we
said on the trail was
trail was amongst the scaremongering of the National Party we had
to dismiss their
dismiss their claims that we were bringing in new top tax
rates because it was clearly incorrect.
Isn't this a broken promise
on a core election issue
only months before the
core election issue only months
Order! I would also point out again that the last Government, when they
left office, were considering a
and excise. I'd say that road users and excise. I'd say that road users
are better off with this Government
because we are spending it more
wisely and we are spending less.
Order! I just want to make it absolutely clear, and it could
have been quite a few more, that members
on my right must not interject
when the Leader of the
Opposition or, in fact, any other member,
is asking a question. Question No. 4.
My
My question is to the Minister of
proposing to cut the state highway improvement budget by
proposing to cut the state highway
over the next 10 years, from a
Spending