Trucking operators want answers from politicians

Over 300 trucking operators will be seeking answers from the Parliamentary parties to some big questions for their industry in a couple of weeks.

A special Political Forum is being held at the Michael Fowler Centre on the afternoon of Friday 22 by the Road Transport Forum, The New Zealand Contractors’ Federation and the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association as part of a two-day Road Transport Summit.

With respected radio and television interviewer Sean Plunket making sure no one tries to duck the issues, the Political Forum will line up the transport spokespeople for the four major Parliamentary parties. Transport Select Committee Chairman David Bennett will be on stage for National, Shane Jones for Labour, Hilary Calvert for ACT and representing the Greens, Gareth Hughes. The Maori Party declined to participate.

All will answer presupplied questions on the critical transport policy issues for trucking operators and set out their party’s position on them for the coming election.

The participants will get instant feedback, with the delegates voting at the end of the Forum on the quality of the politicians’ responses.

The Forum is just one highlight in a packed two-day Road Transport Summit. Transport Minister Steven Joyce will address the Summit on the Friday morning and the ACT party Leader Don Brash will give a keynote speech on the Saturday afternoon.

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