Jami-Lee Ross - Transport
13 June 2018
Transport Minister Phil Twyford’s refusal to force Auckland Council to control its loose spending means New Zealanders
are having to pay hundreds of dollars more for petrol, National’s Transport spokesperson Jami Lee Ross says.
“Mr Twyford’s claim that two new fuel taxes are needed to fund the city’s transport projects is wrong and an unnecessary
raid on the back pockets of hard working Aucklanders.
“If he simply held Auckland Mayor Phil Goff to his election promise to find three to six per cent of savings across
Auckland Council’s annual budget that would free up the same amount of money the regional fuel tax will raise, making
the taxes unnecessary.
“But Mr Twyford is not interested in any solution that doesn’t involve raising taxes so he’s forcing Aucklanders to pay
the price – as much as $15 more every time they fill up.
“National was committed to living within our means and to funding important projects like Penlink, Mill Road, the
Eastern Busway, and the City Rail Link without new taxes.
“We were able to invest record amounts in infrastructure as a result of a growing economy, careful management of the
Government’s books and refusing to allow Auckland Council to subsidise its loose spending with new taxes – all of which
this Government has abandoned.
“Phil Twyford needs to stop treating New Zealanders like an ATM, axe his fuel taxes which will drive the price of fuel
up in Auckland by up to 25 cents a litre and get on with the job of improving the lives of New Zealanders without
forcing them to pay through the nose.”
ends