Significant room for improvement in land transport policy
The road transport industry is looking forward to the Select Committee and the consultative process knocking the rough
edges off both the Land Transport Bill and its accompanying Strategy, Road Transport Forum NZ Chief Executive Officer
Tony Friedlander says.
“The Land Transport Strategy’s heavy weighting towards environmental and social objectives are the result of strong
Green Party influence in its drafting. Given this, we take comfort from the assurances given publicly and privately
during the election campaign by Ministers that the Strategy will not result in increases in petrol taxes or road user
charges,” Mr Friedlander says.
The deletion of economic efficiency from the principle objects of Transit and Transfund in the Bill will need to be
addressed Mr Friedlander says. The present wording could open the door for poor quality expenditure decisions. “The
Forum is sure no one wants this happening so we will be looking for appropriate improvements to the legislation before
it is passed.
“The Bill and the Strategy provide a good starting point for the Government to consult with the business sector and
wider community. The road transport industry is looking forward to contributing to this process.”