Here is Adam Bennett in the Herald today:
Shaky case for $212m fast-tracked road plan
The National Government’s $212 million plan to fast-track regional road projects using asset sales cash is not backed by a strong economic case, documents released under the Official Information Act show.
Opposition MPs have labelled the projects a cynical bid to buy votes.
Vote Buying is a big charge in squeaky clean, anti-corruption New Zealand. So what is Minister Brownlee’s view? He must be horrified at the suggestion…
Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee said the Government believed the roads were worth doing despite the fact they had been “basically on the never never” in terms of the NZTA’s programme.
“They’re roads communities have identified through their MPs and through their correspondence with the Government, and yes they don’t fit inside the big plan and that’s why we’ve funded them separately, so if people want them, we’re there to deliver them. If they don’t want them, vote Labour.”
Holy shit. There you have it. Government Minister Gerry Brownlee explicitly admits massive pork-barreling for government MPs with public funds, and explicitly tells people to piss off if they don’t like it.
Arrogant, much?
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