16 June 2014

Time for Labour to Come Clean on Transmission Gully Intentions

UnitedFuture leader and Ōhariu MP Peter Dunne says it is time for the Labour Party to come clean on its intentions for the Transmission Gully Highway, north of Wellington.

“Today’s comments from Labour’s transport spokesperson that the Government’s focus on building motorways reflects ‘a 1950s attitude’ rings big alarm bells for Transmission Gully, should a Labour/Greens government come to power.

“We know the Greens would stop all motorway development stone cold dead – and with it strangle Wellington’s future economic development – but Labour has so far refused to state its position categorically.

“The strong suspicion is Labour is preparing to sacrifice Transmission Gully in its plans to form a coalition with the Greens, and Wellington voters deserve to know whether after 75 years of debate, last year’s decision to proceed with Transmission Gully will founder if a Labour/Greens coalition comes to office.

“Mr Twyford’s comments this morning suggest strongly this will be the case, so I am challenging Labour to now state its position unequivocally, so local voters know where they stand.

“After all, much of the preparatory work leading to the decision to build Transmission Gully was done during the term of the previous Labour-led government, so people have a right to know whether Labour still holds to its previous commitment to build Transmission Gully because it was the option overwhelmingly preferred by Wellingtonians during the consultation process, or whether it is now backing away from that commitment to stitch up a deal with the Greens,” Mr Dunne says.

ENDS

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